Method for synthesizing amanitins

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to novel methods for synthesizing amanitin derivatives having a hydroxy group attached to the central tryptophan moiety. The invention furthermore relates to novel amanitin derivatives having a hydroxy group attached to position 4′, 5′ or 7′ of the central tryptophan moiety, novel conjugates of such amanitin derivatives, and pharmaceutical compositions comprising such conjugates.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a divisional of co-pending U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 16/637,376, filed Feb. 7, 2020, which is the U.S.national phase of International Patent Application No.PCT/EP2018/071268, filed Aug. 6, 2018, which claims the benefit ofEuropean Patent Application No. 17185182.7, filed Aug. 7, 2017, thedisclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference in theirentireties for all purposes.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to novel methods for synthesizing amanitinderivatives having a hydroxy group attached to the central tryptophanmoiety. The invention furthermore relates to novel amanitin derivativeshaving a hydroxy group attached to position 4′, 5′ or 7′ of the centraltryptophan moiety, novel conjugates of such amanitin derivatives, andpharmaceutical compositions comprising such conjugates.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Amatoxins are cyclic peptides composed of 8 amino acids that are foundin Amanita phalloides mushrooms (see FIG. 1). Amatoxins specificallyinhibit the DNA-dependent RNA polymerase II of mammalian cells, andthereby also the transcription and protein biosynthesis of the affectedcells. Inhibition of transcription in a cell causes stop of growth andproliferation. Though not covalently bound, the complex between amanitinand RNA-polymerase II is very tight (K_(D)=3 nM). Dissociation ofamanitin from the enzyme is a very slow process, thus making recovery ofan affected cell unlikely. When the inhibition of transcription laststoo long, the cell will undergo programmed cell death (apoptosis).

The use of amatoxins as cytotoxic moieties for tumour therapy hadalready been explored in 1981 by coupling an anti-Thy 1.2 antibody toα-amanitin using a linker attached to the indole ring of Trp (amino acid4; see FIG. 1) via diazotation (Davis & Preston, Science 213 (1981)1385-1388). Davis & Preston identified the site of attachment asposition 7′. Morris & Venton demonstrated as well that substitution atposition 7′ results in a derivative, which maintains cytotoxic activity(Morris & Venton, Int. J. Peptide Protein Res. 21 (1983) 419-430).

Patent application EP 1 859 811 A1 (published Nov. 28, 2007) describedconjugates, in which the γ C-atom of amatoxin amino acid 1 of β-amanitinwas directly coupled, i.e. without a linker structure, to albumin or tomonoclonal antibody HEA125, OKT3, or PA-1. Furthermore, the inhibitoryeffect of these conjugates on the proliferation of breast cancer cells(MCF-7), Burkitt's lymphoma cells (Raji) and T-lymphoma cells (Jurkat)was shown. The use of linkers was suggested, including linkerscomprising elements such as amide, ester, ether, thioether, disulfide,urea, thiourea, hydrocarbon moieties and the like, but no suchconstructs were actually shown, and no more details, such as attachmentsites on the amatoxins, were provided.

Patent applications WO 2010/115629 and WO 2010/115630 (both publishedOct. 14, 2010) describe conjugates, where antibodies, such as anti-EpCAMantibodies such as humanized antibody huHEA125, are coupled to amatoxinsvia (i) the γ C-atom of amatoxin amino acid 1, (ii) the 6′ C-atom ofamatoxin amino acid 4, or (iii) via the δ C-atom of amatoxin amino acid3, in each case either directly or via a linker between the antibody andthe amatoxins. The suggested linkers comprise elements such as amide,ester, ether, thioether, disulfide, urea, thiourea, hydrocarbon moietiesand the like. Furthermore, the inhibitory effects of these conjugates onthe proliferation of breast cancer cells (cell line MCF-7), pancreaticcarcinoma (cell line Capan-1), colon cancer (cell line Colo205), andcholangiocarcinoma (cell line OZ) were shown.

Patent application WO 2012/119787 describes that target-binding moietiescan be attached to amatoxins via linkers at additional attachment siteson tryptophan amino acid 4, namely positions 1′-N, without interferencewith the interaction of such amatoxins with their target, theDNA-dependent RNA polymerase II of mammalian cells.

Patent application WO 2014/009025 describes the total synthesis ofamanitin derivatives using a novel synthon for γ,δ-dihydroxyisoleucineas one of the starting materials. Furthermore, patent applicationPCT/EP2016/078984 [published as WO 2017/089607] describes the totalsynthesis of derivatives of γ- and ε-amanitin using readily available(2S,3R,4S)-L-4-hydroxyisoleucine as one of the starting materials.However, these approaches, and all other fully or partially syntheticapproaches pursued so far, are incorporating the central tryptophanmoiety into the amatoxin core by using the method according toSavige-Fontana. In this method,cis-2-carboxy-3a-hydroxy-1,2,3,3a,8,8a-hexahydropyrrolo[2, 3-b]indole(“Hpi”) is incorporated into a linear amanitin precursor structure. Inan acid-catalyzed Hpi-cysteine coupling reaction, the amanitin ringsystem with central tryptophan moiety is formed.

Hpi, however, does not possess any functional moiety attached to thephenyl ring of Hpi's indole moiety. Thus, the amanitin productsresulting from the method according to Savige-Fontana contain a centraltryptophan moiety without any further substituents. Naturally occurringα-, β-, γ, and ε-amanitins, however, contain a central6′-hydoxy-tryptophan moiety, and that 6′-hydroxy group has successfullybeen used as functional group for the functionalization of amanitins,e.g. by attaching targeting moieties, either directly or via linkers(see, for example, WO 2010/115629, WO 2010/115630, and WO 2012/041504).Thus, in the case of synthetic amanitins, functionalization had to bedone via (i) the γ C-atom of amatoxin amino acid 1, or (ii) via the δC-atom of amatoxin amino acid 3, as described above, or via the nitrogenatom of the tryptophan moiety, as described in WO 2012/119787.

Hpi can be obtained by reacting tryptophan with peracetic acid orphotochemically with singlet oxygen. However, no derivatives withsubstituents attached to the phenyl ring of Hpi's indole moiety havebeen described so far.

While the use of fully synthetic routes to amatoxins may offer an optionfor the supply of larger quantities of amatoxins required fortherapeutic uses, and may offer the construction of a variety of novelamatoxin variants by using appropriate starting materials as buildingblocks, the approaches pursued in the past had been limited by the factthat the native structure α-, β-, γ, and/or ε-amanitin could not yet beobtained, since the 6′-hydroxy moiety attached to the core tryptophanmoiety in these amanitins could not be incorporated. Thus, options forfunctionalizing synthetic amanitins have been rather limited so far.Furthermore, it would be highly desirous to expand the range of optionsavailable for the functionalization, since factors such as sterichindrance and reactivity might have a strong impact on the reactivity,biological activity and/or stability of synthetic amanitins and ofconjugates thereof. However, stability and efficacy of conjugatescomprising highly toxic amanitins are of utmost importance for theenvisaged use as therapeutic molecules for administration to humanbeings.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

Thus, there was still a great need for a cost efficient and robust wayof synthesizing amatoxins with a hydroxy group attached to the phenylring of the central tryptophan moiety. In particular, there is a strongneed for identifying starting materials that could be used in theestablished Savige-Fontana reaction and that are set up in a way thatthey can cause the incorporation of such hydroxy groups.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is based on the unexpected observation thatvariants of Hpi can be synthesized that permit the introduction ofhydroxyl groups during the synthesis of amanitin derivatives.

Thus, in one aspect the present invention relates to ahydroxy-substituted derivative of2-carboxy-3a-hydroxy-1,2,3,3a,8,8a-hexahydropyrrolo[2,3-b]indoleaccording to Formula I

wherein R1 is selected from alkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, substituted alkyl,substituted aryl, and substituted heteroaryl;P₁ is hydrogen or a protecting group, particularly a protecting groupselected from Boc, PhCH₂OCO—, CH₂═CHCH₂O—CO—, and trityl;P₂ is hydrogen or a protecting group, particularly a protecting group,particularly a protecting group selected from Boc, PhCH₂OCO—,CH₂═CHCH₂O—CO—, and trityl; andR2 is selected from OH, OR1, and a polypeptide chain consisting of 1-7amino acid residues.

In a second aspect, the present invention relates to a method for thesynthesis of a linear precursor comprising eight amino acid residues ofan amanitin derivative comprising a hydroxylated tryptophan moiety,comprising the step of using a hydroxy-substituted derivative of2-carboxy-3a-hydroxy-1,2,3,3a,8,8a-hexahydropyrrolo[2,3-b]indole of anyone of the present invention in the peptide synthesis of said precursor.

In a third aspect, the invention relates to a method for the synthesisof an amanitin derivative comprising a hydroxylated tryptophan moiety,comprising the steps of.

-   -   (i) causing or allowing the formation of a bond between the        cysteine residue and the tryptophan moiety of the linear        precursor of the present invention; and    -   (ii) causing or allowing the formation of said amanitin        derivative by reacting the N-terminus of the linear precursor of        the present invention with the C-terminus of said precursor.

In a fourth aspect, the invention relates to an amanitin derivativecomprising a hydroxylated tryptophan moiety, which is selected from (i)S-desoxy-4′-hydroxy-amanin, 4′-hydroxy-amanin,S-desoxy-5′-hydroxy-amanin, 5′-hydroxy-amanin,S-desoxy-7′-hydroxy-amanin, 7′-hydroxy-amanin, (ii)S-desoxy-4′-hydroxy-amaninam ide, 4′-hydroxy-amaninamide,S-desoxy-5′-hydroxy-amaninamide, 5′-hydroxy-amaninamide,S-desoxy-7′-hydroxy-amaninamide, and 7′-hydroxy-amaninamide, (iii) aderivative of the amanitin according to (i), wherein the free carboxylicacid moiety of amino acid 1 is converted to an carboxylic ester—C(═O)OR1 or to a moiety —C(═O)NH—OR1, wherein R1 is selected fromalkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, substituted alkyl, substituted aryl, andsubstituted heteroaryl.

In a fifth aspect, the invention relates to a conjugate comprising (a)amanitin derivative comprising a hydroxylated tryptophan moiety of thepresent invention; (b) a target-binding moiety; and (c) optionally alinker linking said amanitin derivative and said target-binding moiety.

In a sixth aspect, the invention relates to a pharmaceutical compositioncomprising the amanitin of the present invention or the conjugate of thepresent invention.

In a seventh aspect, the invention relates to an amanitin derivative ofthe present invention, the conjugate of the present invention, or thepharmaceutical composition of the present invention for use in thetreatment of cancer in a patient, particularly wherein the cancer isselected from the group consisting of breast cancer, pancreatic cancer,cholangiocarcinoma, colorectal cancer, lung cancer, prostate cancer,ovarian cancer, prostate cancer, stomach cancer, kidney cancer,malignant melanoma, leukemia, and malignant lymphoma.

In an eighth aspect, the invention relates to a construct comprising (a)an amanitin derivative of the present invention; and (b) a linker moietycarrying a reactive group Y for linking said amanitin derivative to atarget-binding moiety.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 shows the structural formulae of different amatoxins. The numbersin bold type (1 to 8) designate the standard numbering of the eightamino acids forming the amatoxin. The standard designations of the atomsin amino acids 1, 3 and 4 are also shown (Greek letters α to γ, Greekletters α to δ, and numbers from 1′ to 7′, respectively).

FIG. 2 shows the structure of compound S-deoxy-α-amanitin (HDP 30.0735)and of α-amanitin.

FIG. 3 shows that Hpi (HDP 30.0079) is generated in a one-step synthesisstarting from Boc-L-tryptophan.

FIG. 4 shows that compound S-deoxy-α-amanitin (HDP 30.0735) is generatedby solid-phase peptide synthesis incorporating Hpi derivative HDP30.2555.

FIG. 5 shows the cytotoxicity of S-deoxy-α-amanitin (HDP 30.0735) andS-desoxy-5′-hydroxy-amaninamide HDP 30.2548 on HEK293 cells and onHEK293 OATP1B3 cells.

FIG. 6 shows a construct based on S-deoxy-α-amanitin (HDP 30.0735) witha cleavable linker attached to the 6′-hydroxy group and a terminalmaleimide group as an example of a reactive group Y for linking saidconstruct to a target-binding moiety.

FIG. 7 shows an alternative construct based on S-deoxy-α-amanitin (HDP30.0735) with a cleavable linker attached to the carboxyl group of aminoacid residue 1 and a terminal maleimide group as an example of areactive group Y for linking said construct to a target-binding moiety.

FIG. 8 shows that hydroxylated Hpi derivative HDP 30.2536 is generatedin a multi-step synthesis starting from 5′-hydroxy-L-tryptophan.

FIG. 9 shows that compound the amanitin precursor HDP 30.2544 isgenerated by solid-phase peptide synthesis incorporating Hpi derivativeHDP 30.2536.

FIG. 10 shows that compound the amanitin derivative HDP 30.2546 isgenerated by ring closure from the amanitin precursor HDP 30.2544.

FIG. 11 shows that the amanitin derivative HDP 30.2548(S-desoxy-5′-hydroxy-amaninamide) is generated by removal of protectinggroups from amanitin derivative HDP 30.2546.

FIG. 12 shows a construct based on amanitin derivative HDP 30.2548(S-desoxy-5′-hydroxy-amaninamide) with a cleavable linker attached tothe 5′-hydroxy group and a terminal maleimide group as an example of areactive group Y for linking said construct to a target-binding moiety.

FIGS. 13A-13C show the cytotoxicity of HDP 30.2347, HDP 30.2371 and HDP30.2602 ADCs targeting (FIG. 13A) HER-2/neu on SKBR-3 cells(HER-2/neu+++) and JIMT-1 cells (HER-2/neu+), (FIG. 13B) PSMA on LnCapcells (PSMA+++) and 22rv1 cells (PSMA++), and (FIG. 13C) CD19 on Rajicells (CD19+++) and Nalm-6 cells (CD19++) in comparison to HDP 30.1699ADCs (containing the same cleavable linker as HDP 30.2347, HDP 30.2371and HDP 30.2602, but alpha-amanitin instead of the above describedAmanitin derivatives)

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Before the present invention is described in detail below, it is to beunderstood that this invention is not limited to the particularmethodology, protocols and reagents described herein as these may vary.It is also to be understood that the terminology used herein is for thepurpose of describing particular embodiments only, and is not intendedto limit the scope of the present invention which will be limited onlyby the appended claims. Unless defined otherwise, all technical andscientific terms used herein have the same meanings as commonlyunderstood by one of ordinary skill in the art.

Particularly, the terms used herein are defined as described in “Amultilingual glossary of biotechnological terms: (IUPACRecommendations)”, Leuenberger, H. G. W, Nagel, B. and Kölbl, H. eds.(1995), Helvetica Chimica Acta, CH-4010 Basel, Switzerland).

Throughout this specification and the claims which follow, unless thecontext requires otherwise, the word “comprise”, and variations such as“comprises” and “comprising”, will be understood to imply the inclusionof a stated integer, composition or step or group of integers or steps,while any additional integer, composition or step or group of integers,compositions or steps may optionally be present as well, includingembodiments, where no additional integer, composition or step or groupof integers, compositions or steps are present. In such latterembodiments, the term “comprising” is used coterminous with “consistingof”.

Several documents are cited throughout the text of this specification.Each of the documents cited herein (including all patents, patentapplications, scientific publications, manufacturer's specifications,instructions, GenBank Accession Number sequence submissions etc.),whether supra or infra, is hereby incorporated by reference in itsentirety to the extent possible under the respective patent law. Nothingherein is to be construed as an admission that the invention is notentitled to antedate such disclosure by virtue of prior invention.

The present invention will now be further described. In the followingpassages different aspects of the invention are defined in more detail.Each aspect so defined may be combined with any other aspect or aspectsunless clearly indicated to the contrary. In particular, any featureindicated as being preferred or advantageous may be combined with anyother feature or features indicated as being preferred or advantageous.

The present invention is based on the unexpected observation thatvariants of Hpi can be synthesized that permit the introduction ofhydroxyl groups during the synthesis of amanitin derivatives

Thus, in one aspect the present invention relates to ahydroxy-substituted derivative of2-carboxy-3a-hydroxy-1,2,3,3a,8,8a-hexahydropyrrolo[2,3-b]indoleaccording to Formula I

wherein R1 is selected from alkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, substituted alkyl,substituted aryl, and substituted heteroaryl;P₁ is hydrogen or a protecting group;P₂ is hydrogen or a protecting group; andR2 is selected from OH, OR1, and a polypeptide chain consisting of 1-7amino acid residues.

In the context of the present invention, the term “protecting group”refers to a group that is attached to a nitrogen atom in positions 1 or8 of the central hexahydropyrrolo[2,3-b]indole moiety in order to blockthe nitrogen atom from reacting with other reactants used to synthesizeand/or to further functionalize compounds according to Formula I. One ofordinary skill in the art is well familiar with the different protectinggroups that are available in the art and that can be attached to thecorresponding nitrogen atom when needed to protect the nitrogen atom,and that can be cleaved off subsequently, when N-protection is no longerneeded. In particular embodiments, the N-protection uses an N-acylatingreagent. Thus, in such embodiments, P1 and/or P2 are acyl groups. Inparticular other embodiments, the N-protection uses an N-alkylatingreagent. Thus, in such embodiments, P1 and/or P2 is an alkyl group.

In particular embodiments, the protecting group P1 or P2, when present,is independently selected from Boc, PhCH₂OCO—, CH₂═CHCH₂O—CO—, andtrityl.

In a particular embodiment, the hydroxy group in position 3a and thehydrogen atom in position 8a are in cis-configuration with respect tothe functional group attached to position 2. In another particularembodiment, the hydroxy group in position 3a and the hydrogen atom inposition 8a are in trans-configuration with respect to the functionalgroup attached to position 2. In a particular embodiment, theamino-substituted derivative according to the present invention is amixture of compounds with cis- and trans-configuration.

In a particular embodiment, the substituent R1-C(═O)—O— is attached toposition 4 in Formula I.

In a particular embodiment, the substituent R1-C(═O)—O— is attached toposition 5 in Formula I.

In a particular embodiment, the substituent R1-C(═O)—O— is attached toposition 6 in Formula I.

In a particular embodiment, the substituent R1-C(═O)—O— is attached toposition 7 in Formula I.

In a second aspect, the present invention relates to a method for thesynthesis of a linear precursor comprising eight amino acid residues ofan amanitin derivative comprising a hydroxylated tryptophan moiety,comprising the step of using a hydroxy-substituted derivative of2-carboxy-3a-hydroxy-1,2,3,3a,8,8a-hexahydropyrrolo[2,3-b]indole of thepresent invention in the peptide synthesis of said precursor.

In a third aspect, the invention relates to a method for the synthesisof an amanitin derivative comprising a hydroxylated tryptophan moiety,comprising the steps of.

-   -   (i) causing or allowing the formation of a bond between the        cysteine residue and the tryptophan moiety of the linear        precursor of the present invention; and    -   (ii) causing or allowing the formation of said amanitin        derivative by reacting the N-terminus of the linear precursor of        the present invention with the C-terminus of said precursor.

In additional aspects, the invention relates to individual amanitinprecursors synthesized as shown in the examples, in particular compoundsHDP 30.2569, HDP 30.2572 and the solid phase based intermediatessynthesized according to [00145].

In a particular embodiment, the method of the present invention furthercomprises the oxidation of the sulfur atom of the cysteine moiety toform a sulfoxide or a sulfone, particularly a sulfoxide.

In a fourth aspect, the invention relates to an amanitin derivativecomprising a hydroxylated tryptophan moiety, which is selected from (i)S-desoxy-4′-hydroxy-amanin, 4′-hydroxy-amanin,S-desoxy-5′-hydroxy-amanin, 5′-hydroxy-amanin,S-desoxy-7′-hydroxy-amanin, 7′-hydroxy-amanin, (ii)S-desoxy-4′-hydroxy-amaninamide, 4′-hydroxy-amaninamide,S-desoxy-5′-hydroxy-amaninamide, 5′-hydroxy-amaninamide,S-desoxy-7′-hydroxy-amaninamide, and 7′-hydroxy-amaninamide, (iii) aderivative of the amanitin according to (i), wherein the free carboxylicacid moiety of amino acid 1 is converted to an carboxylic ester—C(═O)OR1 or to a moiety —C(═O)NH—OR1, wherein R1 is selected fromalkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, substituted alkyl, substituted aryl, andsubstituted heteroaryl.

In a particular embodiment, the amanitin derivative of the presentinvention is selected from S-desoxy-5′-hydroxy-amanin,5′-hydroxy-amanin, S-desoxy-5′-hydroxy-amaninamide, and5′-hydroxy-amaninamide

In a fifth aspect, the invention relates to a conjugate comprising (a)amanitin derivative comprising a hydroxylated tryptophan moiety of thepresent invention; (b) a target-binding moiety; and (c) optionally alinker linking said amanitin derivative and said target-binding moiety.

In a sixth aspect, the invention relates to a pharmaceutical compositioncomprising the amanitin of the present invention or the conjugate of thepresent invention.

In a seventh aspect, the invention relates to an amanitin derivative ofthe present invention, the conjugate of the present invention, or thepharmaceutical composition of the present invention for use in thetreatment of cancer in a patient, particularly wherein the cancer isselected from the group consisting of breast cancer, pancreatic cancer,cholangiocarcinoma, colorectal cancer, lung cancer, prostate cancer,ovarian cancer, prostate cancer, stomach cancer, kidney cancer,malignant melanoma, leukemia, and malignant lymphoma.

In an eighth aspect, the invention relates to a construct comprising (a)an amanitin derivative of the present invention; and (b) a linker moietycarrying a reactive group Y for linking said amanitin derivative to atarget-binding moiety.

In the context of the present invention, the term “amanitin” refers to aparticular group of amatoxins. In the context of the present inventionthe term “amatoxin” includes all cyclic peptides composed of 8 aminoacids as isolated from the genus Amanita and described in Wieland, T.and Faulstich H. (Wieland T, Faulstich H., CRC Crit Rev Biochem. 5(1978) 185-260). In the context of the present invention, the term“amanitins” refers to bicyclic structure that are based on an asparticacid or asparagine residue in position 1, a proline residue,particularly a hydroxyproline residue in position 2, an isoleucine,hydroxyisoleucine or dihydroxyisoleucine in position 3, ahydroxytryptophan residue in position 4, glycine residues in positions 5and 7, an isoleucine residue in position 6, and a cysteine residue inposition 8, particularly a derivative of cysteine that is oxidized to asulfoxide or sulfone derivative (for the numbering and representativeexamples of amanitins, see FIG. 1), and furthermore includes allchemical derivatives thereof; further all semisynthetic analoguesthereof; further all synthetic analogues thereof built from buildingblocks according to the master structure of the natural compounds(cyclic, 8 amino acids), further all synthetic or semisyntheticanalogues containing non-hydroxylated amino acids instead of thehydroxylated amino acids (provided that there is at least one hydroxygroup present at the phenyl ring of the tryptophan moiety), further allsynthetic or semisynthetic analogues, in each case wherein any suchderivative or analogue is functionally active by inhibiting mammalianRNA polymerase II.

Thus, in the context of the present invention, the term “eight aminoacid residues of an amanitin derivative” refers to the specific aminoacids that form the bicyclic amanitin polypeptide structure.

Functionally, amatoxins are defined as peptides or depsipeptides thatinhibit mammalian RNA polymerase II. Preferred amatoxins are those witha functional group (e.g. a carboxylic group or carboxylic acidderivative such as a carboxamide or hydroxamic acid, an amino group, ahydroxy group, a thiol or a thiol-capturing group) that can be reactedwith linker molecules or target-binding moieties as defined above.Amatoxins which are particularly suitable for the conjugates of thepresent invention are di-deoxy variants of α-amanitin, β-amanitin,γ-amanitin, ε-amanitin, amanullin, or amanullinic acid, or mono-deoxyvariants of amanin, amaninamide, γ-amanin, or γ-amaninamide as shown inFIG. 1 as well as salts, chemical derivatives, semisynthetic analogues,and synthetic analogues thereof.

In a particular embodiment, the hydroxy-substituted derivative, theamanitin derivative comprising a hydroxylated tryptophan moiety, and/orthe conjugate of the present invention have/has a purity greater than90%, particularly greater than 95%, more particularly greater than 98%,or even more than 99%.

In the context of the present invention, the term “purity” refers to thetotal amount of, e.g. conjugates being present. A purity of greater than90%, for example, means that in 1 mg of a composition comprising aconjugate of the present invention, there are more than 90%, i.e. morethan 900 μg, of such conjugate. The remaining part, i.e. the impuritiesmay include unreacted starting material and other reactants, solvents,cleavage products and/or side products.

In a particular embodiment, a composition comprising thehydroxy-substituted derivative, the amanitin derivative comprising ahydroxylated tryptophan moiety, and/or the conjugate of the presentinvention comprises more than 100 mg, in particular more than 500 mg,and more particularly more than 1 g of such hydroxy-substitutedderivative, amanitin derivative comprising a hydroxylated tryptophanmoiety, and/or conjugate. Thus, trace amount of, e.g. a conjugate of thepresent invention that arguably may be present in complex preparationsof conjugates of the prior art are explicitly excluded.

The term “target-binding moiety”, as used herein, refers to any moleculeor part of a molecule that can specifically bind to a target molecule ortarget epitope. Preferred target-binding moieties in the context of thepresent application are (i) antibodies or antigen-binding fragmentsthereof; (ii) antibody-like proteins; and (iii) nucleic acid aptamers.“Target-binding moieties” suitable for use in the present inventiontypically have a molecular mass of 40 000 Da (40 kDa) or more.

As used herein, a first compound (e.g. an antibody) is considered to“specifically bind” to a second compound (e.g. an antigen, such as atarget protein), if it has a dissociation constant K_(D) to said secondcompound of 100 μM or less, particularly 50 μM or less, particularly 30μM or less, particularly 20 μM or less, particularly 10 μM or less,particularly 5 μM or less, more particularly 1 μM or less, moreparticularly 900 nM or less, more particularly 800 nM or less, moreparticularly 700 nM or less, more particularly 600 nM or less, moreparticularly 500 nM or less, more particularly 400 nM or less, moreparticularly 300 nM or less, more particularly 200 nM or less, even moreparticularly 100 nM or less, even more particularly 90 nM or less, evenmore particularly 80 nM or less, even more particularly 70 nM or less,even more particularly 60 nM or less, even more particularly 50 nM orless, even more particularly 40 nM or less, even more particularly 30 nMor less, even more particularly 20 nM or less, and even moreparticularly 10 nM or less.

In the context of the present application the terms “target molecule”and “target epitope”, respectively, refers to an antigen and an epitopeof an antigen, respectively, that is specifically bound by atarget-binding moiety. Particularly the target molecule is atumour-associated antigen, in particular an antigen or an epitope whichis present on the surface of one or more tumour cell types in anincreased concentration and/or in a different steric configuration ascompared to the surface of non-tumour cells. Particularly, said antigenor epitope is present on the surface of one or more tumour cell types,but not on the surface of non-tumour cells. In particular embodiments,the target-binding moiety specifically binds to an epitope of an antigenselected from: PSMA, CD19, CD269, sialyl Lewisa, HER-2/neu andepithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM). In other embodiments, saidantigen or epitope is preferentially expressed on cells involved inautoimmune diseases. In particular such embodiments, the target-bindingmoiety specifically binds to an epitope of the IL-6 receptor (IL-6R).

The term “antibody or antigen binding fragment thereof”, as used herein,refers to immunoglobulin molecules and immunologically active portionsof immunoglobulin molecules, i.e. molecules that contain anantigen-binding site that immunospecifically binds an antigen. Thus, theterm “antigen-binding fragments thereof” refers to a fragment of anantibody comprising at least a functional antigen-binding domain. Alsocomprised are immunoglobulin-like proteins that are selected throughtechniques including, for example, phage display to specifically bind toa target molecule, e.g. to a target protein selected from: PSMA, CD19,CD269, sialyl Lewisa, HER-2/neu and EpCAM. The immunoglobulin moleculesof the invention can be of any type (e.g., IgG, IgE, IgM, IgD, IgA andIgY), class (e.g., IgG1, IgG2, IgG3, IgG4, IgA1 and IgA2) or subclass ofimmunoglobulin molecule. “Antibodies and antigen-binding fragmentsthereof” suitable for use in the present invention include, but are notlimited to, polyclonal, monoclonal, monovalent, bispecific,heteroconjugate, multispecific, human, humanized (in particularCDR-grafted), deimmunized, or chimeric antibodies, single chainantibodies (e.g. scFv), Fab fragments, F(ab′)2 fragments, fragmentsproduced by a Fab expression library, diabodies or tetrabodies (HolligerP. et al., Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 90 (1993) 6444-8), nanobodies,anti-idiotypic (anti-Id) antibodies (including, e.g., anti-Id antibodiesto antibodies of the invention), and epitope-binding fragments of any ofthe above.

In some embodiments the antigen-binding fragments are humanantigen-binding antibody fragments of the present invention and include,but are not limited to, Fab, Fab′ and F(ab′)2, Fd, single-chain Fvs(scFv), single-chain antibodies, disulfide-linked Fvs (dsFv) andfragments comprising either a VL or VH domain. Antigen-binding antibodyfragments, including single-chain antibodies, may comprise the variabledomain(s) alone or in combination with the entirety or a portion of thefollowing: hinge region, CL, CH1, CH2, and CH3 domains. Also included inthe invention are antigen-binding fragments also comprising anycombination of variable domain(s) with a hinge region, CL, CH1, CH2, andCH3 domains.

Antibodies usable in the invention may be from any animal originincluding birds and mammals. Particularly, the antibodies are fromhuman, rodent (e.g. mouse, rat, guinea pig, or rabbit), chicken, pig,sheep, goat, camel, cow, horse, donkey, cat, or dog origin. It isparticularly preferred that the antibodies are of human or murineorigin. As used herein, “human antibodies” include antibodies having theamino acid sequence of a human immunoglobulin and include antibodiesisolated from human immunoglobulin libraries or from animals transgenicfor one or more human immunoglobulin and that do not express endogenousimmunoglobulins, as described for example in U.S. Pat. No. 5,939,598 byKucherlapati & Jakobovits.

The term “antibody-like protein” refers to a protein that has beenengineered (e.g. by mutagenesis of loops) to specifically bind to atarget molecule. Typically, such an antibody-like protein comprises atleast one variable peptide loop attached at both ends to a proteinscaffold. This double structural constraint greatly increases thebinding affinity of the antibody-like protein to levels comparable tothat of an antibody. The length of the variable peptide loop typicallyconsists of 10 to 20 amino acids. The scaffold protein may be anyprotein having good solubility properties. Particularly, the scaffoldprotein is a small globular protein. Antibody-like proteins includewithout limitation affibodies, anticalins, and designed ankyrin repeatproteins (for review see: Binz et al., Nat Biotechnol. 2005, 1257-68).Antibody-like proteins can be derived from large libraries of mutants,e.g. be panned from large phage display libraries and can be isolated inanalogy to regular antibodies. Also, antibody-like binding proteins canbe obtained by combinatorial mutagenesis of surface-exposed residues inglobular proteins.

The term “nucleic acid aptamer” refers to a nucleic acid molecule thathas been engineered through repeated rounds of in vitro selection orSELEX (systematic evolution of ligands by exponential enrichment) tobind to a target molecule (for a review see: Brody and Gold, JBiotechnol. 74 (2000) 5-13). The nucleic acid aptamer may be a DNA orRNA molecule. The aptamers may contain modifications, e.g. modifiednucleotides such as 2′-fluorine-substituted pyrimidines.

A “linker” in the context of the present invention refers to a structurethat is connecting two components, each being attached to one end of thelinker. In the case of the linker being a bond, a direct linkage ofamatoxin to the antibody may decrease the ability of the amatoxin tointeract with RNA polymerase II. In particular embodiments, the linkerincreases the distance between two components and alleviates stericinterference between these components, such as in the present casebetween the antibody and the amatoxin. In particular embodiments, thelinker has a continuous chain of between 1 and 30 atoms (e.g. 1, 2, 3,4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22,23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, or 30 atoms) in its backbone, i.e. thelength of the linker is defined as the shortest connection as measuredby the number of atoms or bonds between the amatoxin moiety and theantibody, wherein one side of the linker backbone has been reacted withthe amatoxin and, the other side is available for reaction, or has beenreacted, with an antibody. In the context of the present invention, alinker particularly is a C₁₋₂₀-alkylene, C₁₋₂₀-heteroalkylene,C₂₋₂₀-alkenylene, C₂₋₂₀-heteroalkenylene, C₂₋₂₀-alkynylene,C₂₋₂₀-heteroalkynylene, cycloalkylene, heterocycloalkylene, arylene,heteroarylene, aralkylene, or a heteroaralkylene group, optionallysubstituted. The linker may contain one or more structural elements suchas carboxamide, ester, ether, thioether, disulfide, urea, thiourea,hydrocarbon moieties and the like. The linker may also containcombinations of two or more of these structural elements. Each one ofthese structural elements may be present in the linker more than once,e.g. twice, three times, four times, five times, or six times. In someembodiments the linker may comprise a disulfide bond. It is understoodthat the linker has to be attached either in a single step or in two ormore subsequent steps to the amatoxin and the antibody. To that end thelinker to be will carry two groups, particularly at a proximal anddistal end, which can (i) form a covalent bond to a group present in oneof the components to be linked, particularly an activated group on anamatoxin or the target binding-peptide or (ii) which is or can beactivated to form a covalent bond with a group on an amatoxin.Accordingly, it is preferred that chemical groups are at the distal andproximal end of the linker, which are the result of such a couplingreaction, e.g. an ester, an ether, a urethane, a peptide bond etc.

In particular embodiments, the linker L is a linear chain of between 1and 20 atoms independently selected from C, O, N and S, particularlybetween 2 and 18 atoms, more particularly between 5 and 16 atoms, andeven more particularly between 6 and 15 atoms. In particularembodiments, at least 60% of the atoms in the linear chain are C atoms.In particular embodiments, the atoms in the linear chain are linked bysingle bonds.

In particular embodiments. the linker L is an alkylene, heteroalkylene,alkenylene, heteroalkenylene, alkynylene, heteroalkynylene,cycloalkylene, heterocycloalkylene, arylene, heteroarylene, aralkylene,or a heteroaralkylene group, comprising from 1 to 4 heteroatoms selectedfrom N, O, and S, wherein said linker is optionally substituted.

The term “alkylene” refers to a bivalent straight chain saturatedhydrocarbon groups having from 1 to 20 carbon atoms, including groupshaving from 1 to 10 carbon atoms. In certain embodiments, alkylenegroups may be lower alkylene groups. The term “lower alkylene” refers toalkylene groups having from 1 to 6 carbon atoms, and in certainembodiments from 1 to 5 or 1 to 4 carbon atoms. Examples of alkylenegroups include, but are not limited to, methylene (—CH₂—), ethylene(—CH₂—CH₂—), n-propylene, n-butylene, n-pentylene, and n-hexylene.

The term “alkenylene” refers to bivalent straight chain groups having 2to 20 carbon atoms, wherein at least one of the carbon-carbon bonds is adouble bond, while other bonds may be single bonds or further doublebonds. The term “alkynylene” herein refers to groups having 2 to 20carbon atoms, wherein at least one of the carbon-carbon bonds is atriple bond, while other bonds may be single, double or further triplebonds. Examples of alkenylene groups include ethenylene (—CH═CH—),1-propenylene, 2-propenylene, 1-butenylene, 2-butenylene, 3-butenylene,and the like. Examples of alkynylene groups include ethynylene,1-propynylene, 2-propynylene, and so forth.

As used herein, “cycloalkylene” is intended to refer to a bivalent ringbeing part of any stable monocyclic or polycyclic system, where suchring has between 3 and 12 carbon atoms, but no heteroatom, and wheresuch ring is fully saturated, and the term “cycloalkenylene” is intendedto refer to a bivalent ring being part of any stable monocyclic orpolycyclic system, where such ring has between 3 and 12 carbon atoms,but no heteroatom, and where such ring is at least partially unsaturated(but excluding any arylene ring). Examples of cycloalkylenes include,but are not limited to, cyclopropylene, cyclobutylene, cyclopentylene,cyclohexylene, and cycloheptylene. Examples of cycloalkenylenes include,but are not limited to, cyclopentenylene and cyclohexenylene.

As used herein, the terms “heterocycloalkylene” and“heterocycloalkenylene” are intended to refer to a bivalent ring beingpart of any stable monocyclic or polycyclic ring system, where such ringhas between 3 and about 12 atoms, and where such ring consists of carbonatoms and at least one heteroatom, particularly at least one heteroatomindependently selected from the group consisting of N, O and S, withheterocycloalkylene referring to such a ring that is fully saturated,and heterocycloalkenylene referring to a ring that is at least partiallyunsaturated (but excluding any arylene or heteroarylene ring).

The term “arylene” is intended to mean a bivalent ring or ring systembeing part of any stable monocyclic or polycyclic system, where suchring or ring system has between 3 and 20 carbon atoms, but has noheteroatom, which ring or ring system consists of an aromatic moiety asdefined by the “4n+2” π electron rule, including phenylene.

As used herein, the term “heteroarylene” refers to a bivalent ring orring system being part of any stable mono- or polycyclic system, wheresuch ring or ring system has between 3 and 20 atoms, which ring or ringsystem consists of an aromatic moiety as defined by the “4n+2” πelectron rule and contains carbon atoms and one or more nitrogen,sulfur, and/or oxygen heteroatoms.

In the context of the present invention, the term “substituted” isintended to indicate that one or more hydrogens present in the backboneof a linker is replaced with a selection from the indicated group(s),provided that the indicated atom's normal valency, or that of theappropriate atom of the group that is substituted, is not exceeded, andthat the substitution results in a stable compound. The term “optionallysubstituted” is intended to mean that the linker is either unsubstitutedor substituted, as defined herein, with one or more substituents, asdefined herein. When a substituent is a keto (or oxo, i.e. ═O) group, athio or imino group or the like, then two hydrogens on the linkerbackbone atom are replaced. Exemplary substituents include, for example,alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkyl, heterocycloalkyl, aryl, heteroaryl,aralkyl, heteroaralkyl, acyl, aroyl, heteroaroyl, carboxyl, alkoxy,aryloxy, acyloxy, aroyloxy, heteroaroyloxy, alkoxycarbonyl, halogen,(thio)ester, cyano, phosphoryl, amino, imino, (thio)amido, sulfhydryl,alkylthio, acylthio, sulfonyl, a sulfate, a sulfonate, a sulfamoyl, asulfonamido, nitro, azido, haloalkyl, including perfluoroalkyl (such astrifluoromethyl), haloalkoxy, alkylsulfanyl, alkylsulfinyl,alkylsulfonyl, alkylsulfonylamino, arylsulfonoamino, phosphoryl,phosphate, phosphonate, phosphinate, alkylcarboxy, alkylcarboxyamide,oxo, hydroxy, mercapto, amino (optionally mono- or di-substituted, e.g.by alkyl, aryl, or heteroaryl), imino, carboxamide, carbamoyl(optionally mono- or di-substituted, e.g. by alkyl, aryl, orheteroaryl), am idino, am inosulfonyl, acylamino, aroylamino,(thio)ureido, (arylthio)ureido, alkyl(thio)ureido,cycloalkyl(thio)ureido, aryloxy, aralkoxy, or —O(CH₂)_(n)—OH,—O(CH₂)_(n)—NH₂, —O(CH₂)_(n)COOH, —(CH₂)_(n)COOH, —C(O)O(CH₂)_(n)R,—(CH₂)_(n)N(H)C(O)OR, or —N(R)S(O)₂R wherein n is 1-4 and R isindependently selected from hydrogen, -alkyl, -alkenyl, -alkynyl,-cycloalkyl, -cycloalkenyl, —(C-linked-heterocycloalkyl),—(C-linked-heterocycloalkenyl), -aryl, and -heteroaryl, with multipledegrees of substitution being allowed. It will be understood by thoseskilled in the art that substituents, such as heterocycloalkyl, aryl,heteroaryl, alkyl, etc., or functional groups such as —OH, —NHR etc.,can themselves be substituted, if appropriate. It will also beunderstood by those skilled in the art that the substituted moietiesthemselves can be substituted as well when appropriate.

In particular embodiments, the linker L comprises a moiety selected fromone of the following moieties: a disulfide (—S—S—), an ether (—O—), athioether (—S—), an amine (—NH—), an ester (—O—C(═O)— or —C(═O)—O—), acarboxamide (—NH—C(═O)— or —C(═O)—NH—), a urethane (—NH—C(═O)—O— or—O—C(═O)—NH—), and a urea moiety (—NH—C(═O)—NH—).

In particular embodiments of the present invention, the linker Lcomprises a number of m groups selected from the list of: alkylene,alkenylene, alkynylene, cycloalkylene, heteroalkylene, heteroalkenylene,heteroalkynylene, heterocycloalkylene, arylene, heteroarylene,aralkylene, and a heteroaralkylene group, wherein each group mayoptionally be independently substituted, the linker further comprises anumber of n moieties independently selected from one of the followingmoieties: a disulfide (—S—S—), an ether (—O—), a thioether (—S—), anamine (—NH—), an ester (—O—C(═O)— or —C(═O)—O—), a carboxamide(—NH—C(═O)— or —C(═O)—NH—), a urethane (—NH—C(═O)—O— or —O—C(═O)—NH—),and a urea moiety (—NH—C(═O)—NH—), wherein m=n+1. In particularembodiments, m is 2 and n is 1, or m is 3 and n is 2. In particularembodiments, the linker comprises 2 or 3 unsubstituted alkylene groups,and 1 or 2, respectively, disulfide, ether, thioether, amine, ester,carboxamide, urethane or urea moieties linking the unsubstitutedalkylene groups.

In a particular embodiment, the linker L does not comprise aheteroarylene group.

In particular embodiments, the C atoms in the linear chain areindependently part of optionally substituted methylene groups (—CH₂—).In particular such embodiments, the optional substituents areindependently selected from halogen and C₁₋₆-alkyl, particularly methyl.

In particular embodiments, the linker L is a stable linker.

In the context of the present invention, the term “stable linker” refersto a linker that is stable (i) in the presence of enzymes, and (ii) inan intracellular reducing environment.

In particular embodiments, the stable linker does not contain (i) anenzyme-cleavable substructure, and/or (ii) a disulfide group. Inparticular such embodiments, the linker has a length of up to 12 atoms,particularly from 2 to 10, more particularly from 4 to 9, and mostparticularly from 6 to 8 atoms.

In particular other embodiments, the linker is a cleavable linker.

In the context of the present invention, the term “cleavable linker”refers to a linker that is (i) cleavable by an enzyme, or (ii) areducible linker. In particular embodiments, the term only refers to alinker that is cleavable by an enzyme (not to a reducible linker).

In the context of the present invention, the term “linker that iscleavable . . . by an enzyme” refers to a linker that can be cleaved byan enzyme, particularly by a lysosomal peptidase, such as Cathepsin B,resulting in the intracellular release of the toxin cargo conjugated tothe targeting antibody after internalization (see Dubowchik et al.,Bioconjug Chem. 13 (2002) 855-69). In particular embodiments, thecleavable linker comprises a dipeptide selected from: Phe-Lys, Val-Lys,Phe-Ala, Val-Ala, Phe-Cit and Val-Cit, particularly wherein thecleavable linker further comprises a p-aminobenzyl (PAB) spacer betweenthe dipeptides and the amatoxin.

In particular such embodiments, the cleavable linker comprises astructure L¹-L*-L², wherein L* is p-aminobenzyl dipeptide moiety, L¹ isa part of the linker that connects L* to the amatoxin, in particular,wherein L¹ is connected to L* via a —NH— or a —O— group, particularly a—C(═O)—NH—, a —C(═O)—NH—O— or a —C(═O)—O— group, and wherein L² is apart of the linker that connects L* to the target-binding moiety, inparticular wherein L² is connected to L* via a —(CH₂)_(m)— moiety, withm being an integer selected from 1 to 8, in particular from 1 to 5, orvia a —(CH₂CH₂O)_(n)— moiety, with n being an integer selected from 1 to3, in particular from 1 to 2. For example, in the case of the cleavablelinker comprising the dipeptide Val-Ala, the structure of L¹-L*-L² is asfollows:

In particular other such embodiments, L* comprises the dipeptide Val-Lysand has the following structure:

In particular embodiments, the linker L¹ is a linear chain of between 1and 4 atoms independently selected from C, O, N and S, particularlybetween 1 and 3 atoms, more particularly between 1 and 2 atoms, and evenmore just 1 atom. In particular embodiments, at least 50% of the atomsin the linear chain are C atoms. In particular embodiments, the atoms inthe linear chain are linked by single bonds.

In a particular embodiment, L¹ is a —NH— or a —O— group that is part ofthe amatoxin. In particular embodiments, L¹ is a —O— group originatingfrom a hydroxy group attached to position 4′, 5′, 6′ or 7′ of thecentral tryptophan moiety. In particular embodiments, L¹ is a —O— grouporiginating from the hydroxyl group being part of the carboxylic acidgroup of amino acid residue 1 of an amanin derivative according to thepresent invention. In particular embodiments, L¹ is a —NH— grouporiginating from the amino group being part of the carboxamide group ofamino acid residue 1 of an amanineamide derivative according to thepresent invention. In particular embodiments, L¹ is a —O— grouporiginating from a hydroxyl group being part of amino acid residue 3 ofan amanin or amaninamide derivative according to the present invention.

In the context of the present invention, the term “reducible linker”refers to a linker that can be cleaved in the intracellular reducingenvironment, particularly a linker that contains a disulfide groups,resulting in the intracellular release of the toxin cargo conjugated tothe target-binding moiety after internalization by the intracellularreducing environment (see Shen et al., J. Biol. Chem. 260 (1985)10905-10908). In particular embodiments, the reducible linker comprisesa moiety

wherein R1 to R4 are independently selected from H and methyl.

In particular such embodiments, such cleavable linker has a length of upto 20 atoms, particularly from 6 to 18, more particularly from 8 to 16,and most particularly from 10 to 15 atoms. In particular suchembodiments, the part of the linker linking the amatoxin according tothe present invention and the cleavable disulfide group is a linearchain of 3 or 4 C atoms, particularly 3 C atoms. In particularembodiments, the 3 or 4 C atoms in the linear chain are linked by singlebonds. In particular embodiments, the linker is an n-propylene group.

In particular embodiments, said linker is present and is connected onone side to the hydroxyl group attached to the phenyl ring of thecentral tryptophan moiety, i. e. to a 4′, 5′ or 7′ hydroxy substituent.

In particular other embodiments, said linker is present and is connectedon one side to a position in the amanitin derivative of the presentinvention, wherein said position is selected from

-   -   (i) in the case of S-desoxy-4′-hydroxy-amaninamide,        4′-hydroxy-amaninam ide, S-desoxy-5′-hydroxy-amaninam ide,        5′-hydroxy-amaninam ide, S-desoxy-7′-hydroxy-amaninam ide, and        7′-hydroxy-amaninam ide, the nitrogen atom of the carboxamide        group at the γ C-atom of amatoxin amino acid 1 (amide linkage);    -   (ii) in the case of S-desoxy-4′-hydroxy-amanin,        4′-hydroxy-amanin, S-desoxy-5′-hydroxy-amanin,        5′-hydroxy-amanin, S-desoxy-7′-hydroxy-amanin,        7′-hydroxy-amanin—the oxygen atom of the acid group at the γ        C-atom of amatoxin amino acid 1 (ester linkage);    -   (iii) in the case of a derivative of the amanitin of the present        invention, wherein the free carboxylic acid moiety of amino acid        1 has been converted to a moiety —C(═O)NH—OR1, the oxygen atom        of the hydroxamic acid group at the γ C-atom of amatoxin amino        acid 1;    -   (iv) the oxygen atom of the hydroxy group at the δ C-atom of        amatoxin amino acid 3, particularly via an ester linkage, an        ether linkage or a urethane linkage; or    -   (v) the ring nitrogen of amino acid 4.

Coupling of the linker to the target-binding moiety can be achieved by avariety of methods well known to one of ordinary skill in the art,particularly in the art of antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs).

In particular embodiments, said linker is connected to thetarget-binding moiety via a urea moiety ( . . .-linker-NH—C(═O)—NH—target-binding moiety). In particular suchembodiments, the urea moiety results from a reaction of a primary amineoriginally present in the target-binding moiety, such as an amino groupof a lysine side chain, with a carbamic acid derivative . . .-linker-NH—C(O)—Z, wherein Z is a leaving group that can be replaced bya primary amine.

In particular other embodiments, said linker is present and is connectedto the target-binding moiety via a thioether moiety ( . . .-linker-S-target-binding moiety). Thus, in such embodiments, the presentinvention relates to a conjugate of generic formula:

Amanitin-L-X*-S-Tbm,

wherein Amanitin is an amanitin derivative according to the presentinvention, L is a linker, X* is a moiety resulting from coupling of athiol group to a thiol-reactive group, S is the sulphur atom of saidthiol group, particularly the thiol group of a cysteine amino acidresidue, and Tbm is a target-binding moiety, particularly an antibody ora functional antibody fragment comprising said cysteine amino acidresidue. In particular embodiments, said cysteine amino acid residue (i)is located in an antibody domain selected from CL, CH1, CH2, and CH3;(ii) is located at a position, where the germline sequence exhibitingthe closest homology to the sequence of said antibody domain contains anamino acid residue different from cysteine; and (iii) is located aposition that is solvent-exposed.

In the context of the present invention, the term “thiol-reactive group”refers to a group that selectively reacts with the thiol group of, forexample, a free cysteine of an antibody, particularly in a pH value inthe range between 6.0 and 8.0, more particularly in a pH value in therange between 6.5 and 7.5. In particular, the term “selectively” meansthat less than 10% of the coupling reactions of a molecule comprising athiol-reactive group with an antibody comprising at least one freecysteine residue are coupling reactions with non-cysteine residues ofthe antibody, such as lysine residues, particularly less than 5%, moreparticularly less than 2%. In particular embodiments, the thiol-reactivegroup is selected from bromoacetamide, iodoacetamide, maleimide, amaleimide having a leaving group in position 3, in particular a leavinggroup selected from —Br, and substituted thiol (see, for example, U.S.Pat. No. 9,295,729), a 1,2-dihydropyridazine-3,6-dione having a leavinggroup in position 4, in particular a leaving group selected from —Br,and substituted thiol (see, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 9,295,729),methylsulfonyl benzothiazole, methylsulfonyl phenyltetrazole,methylsulfonyl phenyloxadiazole (see Toda et al., Angew. Chem. Int. Ed.Engl., 52 (2013) 12592-6), a 3-arylpropionitrile (see Kolodych et al,Bioconjugate Chem. 2015, 26, 197-200), and5-nitro-pyridin-2-yl-disulfide ( . . . -L-S-S-(5-nitro-pyridine-2-yl).

In particular embodiments, said position or functional group, which ison one side connected to the linker and which can directly or indirectlybe connected to a position or functional group present in atarget-binding moiety is a moiety that can react with two thiol groupspresent in one target-binding moiety or in two target-binding moieties.In particular embodiments, the thiol-reactive groups is a maleimidehaving two leaving groups in positions 3 and 4, in particular selectedfrom 3,4-dibromomaleim ide, 3,4-bis(arylthio)-maleimide, in particular3,4-diphenylthio-maleimide, and 3,4-bis(heteroarylthio)-maleimide, inparticular 3,4-bis(2-pyridinyl-sulfanyl)-maleimide, and. In particularother embodiments, the thiol-reactive groups is a1,2-dihydropyridazine-3,6-dione having two leaving groups in positions 4and 5, in particular selected from4,5-bromo-1,2-dihydropyridazine-3,6-dione,4,5-bis(arylthio)-1,2-dihydropyridazine-3,6-dione, in particular4,5-diphenylthio-1,2-dihydropyridazine-3,6-dione, and4,5-bis(heteroarylthio)-1,2-dihydropyridazine-3,6-dione, in particular4,5-bis(2-pyridinyl-sulfanyl)-1,2-dihydropyridazine-3,6-dione.

In particular embodiments, the moiety resulting from coupling of a thiolgroup to a thiol-reactive group is selected from: thiol-substitutedacetamide; thiol-substituted succinimide; thiol-substituted succinamicacid; thiol-substituted heteroaryl, particularly thiol-substitutedbenzothiazole, thiol-substituted phenyltetrazole and thiol-substitutedphenyloxadiazole; and a disulphide, wherein one sulphur atom is derivedfrom a cysteine residue of the antibody. In particular embodiments, themoiety resulting from coupling of a thiol group to a thiol-reactivegroup is a thiol-substituted succinimide.

In particular embodiments, the linker L in the moiety L-X*-S present inthe generic formula of section [00101], is selected from the followinggroup of moieties:

-   (Amanitin side) —(CH₂)₂—S—S—(CH₂)₂—X—S— (Tbm side);-   (Amanitin side) —(CH₂)₃—S—S—(CH₂)₂—X—S— (Tbm side);-   (Amanitin side) —(CH₂)₂—S—S—(CH₂)₃—X—S— (Tbm side);-   (Amanitin side) —(CH₂)₃—S—S—(CH₂)₃—X—S— (Tbm side);-   (Amanitin side) —(CH₂)₄—S—S—(CH₂)₄—X—S— (Tbm side);-   (Amanitin side) —(CH₂)₂—CMe₂-S—S—(CH₂)₂—X—S— (Tbm side);-   (Amanitin side) —(CH₂)₂—S—S—CMe₂-(CH₂)₂—X—S— (Tbm side);-   (Amanitin side) —(CH₂)₃—S—S— (Tbm side);-   (Amanitin side) —CH₂—C₆H₄—NH-Cit-Val-CO(CH₂)₅—X—S— (Tbm side)-   (Amanitin side) —CH₂—C₆H₄—NH-Ala-Val-CO(CH₂)₅—X—S— (Tbm side);-   (Amanitin side) —CH₂—C₆H₄—NH-Ala-Val-CO(CH₂)₂—X—S— (Tbm side);-   (Amanitin side) —CH₂—C₆H₄—NH-Ala-Phe-CO(CH₂)₂—X—S— (Tbm side);-   (Amanitin side) —CH₂—C₆H₄—NH-Lys-Phe-CO(CH₂)₂—X—S— (Tbm side);-   (Amanitin side) —CH₂—C₆H₄—NH-Cit-Phe-CO(CH₂)₂—X—S— (Tbm side);-   (Amanitin side) —CH₂—C₆H₄—NH-Val-Val-CO(CH₂)₂—X—S— (Tbm side);-   (Amanitin side) —CH₂—C₆H₄—NH-Ile-Val-CO(CH₂)₂—X—S— (Tbm side);-   (Amanitin side) —CH₂—C₆H₄—NH-His-Val-CO(CH₂)₂—X—S— (Tbm side);-   (Amanitin side) —CH₂—C₆H₄—NH-Met-Val-CO(CH₂)₂—X—S— (Tbm side);-   (Amanitin side) —CH₂—C₆H₄—NH-Asn-Lys-CO(CH₂)₂—X—S— (Tbm side); and    wherein —NH— and —CO— flanking the dipeptide sequences represent    amino and carbonyl moieties of the linker forming amide bonds to the    carboxy- and the amino-terminus of the dipeptide, respectively.

In the context of the present invention, the term “a moiety resultingfrom coupling of a thiol group to a thiol-reactive group” refers to astructure that results from (i) the nucleophilic substitution of aleaving group Y present in a thiol-reactive group by the sulphur atom ofa cysteine residue, for example a bromo acetamide group, a iodoacetamide, a 4,6-dichloro-1,3,5-triazin-2-ylamino group, an alkylsulfoneor a heteroarylsulfone; (ii) the addition of the HS-group of a cysteineresidue to an activated double bond of a thiol-reactive group, forexample maleimide, or (iii) an disulfide exchange of an activateddisulfide or methanethiosulfonate with the sulphur atom of a cysteineresidue, for example with pyridine-2-thiol, 5-nitropyridine-2-thiol ormethanesulfinate as leaving group; or (iv) any other chemical reactionthat results in a stable bond between the sulphur atom of a cysteineresidue and a reactive moiety being part of the thiol-reactive group.

The primary moiety resulting from coupling of thiol group may beoptionally further derivatized, e.g. the succinimidyl thioetherresulting from a maleimide can be hydrolysed to succinamic acidthioethers of the following generic structures

In particular other embodiments, site-specific coupling can be achievedby reducing a disulfide bridge present in the target-binding moiety, andby reacting the two cysteine residues with a bridging moiety X* presentin an Amanitin-L-X* construct (see Badescu et al. Bridging disulfidesfor stable and defined antibody drug conjugates. Bioconjugate Chemistry.25 (2014) 1124-1136).

In a similar embodiment, site-specific coupling can be achieved byreducing a disulfide bridge present in the target-binding moiety, and byreacting the two cysteine residues with a bridging moiety X* present ina Amanitin-L-X* construct, particularly wherein X* is

(see Bryden et al., Bioconjug Chem, 25 (2014) 611-617; Schumacher etal., Org Biomol Chem, 2014, 7261-7269)

In a particular other embodiment, coupling is achieved by regiospecificcoupling of an amino group present in the linker to a glutamine residuepresent in the target-binding moiety via a transaminase, particularly bycoupling to glutamine Q295 of an antibody.

In a particular embodiment, coupling is achieved by site-specificconjugation to target-binding moieties comprising N-glycan side chains.In particular, the N-glycan side chain can be degraded enzymatically,followed by trans-glycosylation with an azido-galactose. Using clickchemistry, such modified target-binding moiety can be coupled toappropriately modified constructs Amanitin-L-X*, wherein X* is, forexample, a dibenzo-cyclooctyne (DIBO) or an analogous moiety comprisinga C—C triple bond. For example, a construct Amanitin-L-NH₂ can becoupled to DIBO-SE

by nucleophilic substitution of the hydroxy succinimide moiety. Theresulting DIBO-modified linker construct can then be coupled to theazido derivative mentioned above. In an alternative embodiment, thetarget-binding moiety can be modified by incorporation of a non-naturalamino acid that permits click-chemistry, in particular by incorporationof a para-azidomethyl-L-phenylalanine (pAMF).

In particular embodiments, the linker L in -L-X* is a linear chain of atleast 5, particularly at least 10, more particularly between 10 and 20atoms independently selected from C, O, N and S, particularly between 10and 18 atoms, more particularly between 10 and 16 atoms, and even moreparticularly between 10 and 15 atoms. In particular embodiments, atleast 60% of the atoms in the linear chain are C atoms. In particularembodiments, the atoms in the linear chain are linked by single bonds.

In alternative embodiments, the position or functional group, which candirectly or indirectly be connected to a position or functional grouppresent in a target-binding moiety, is not an ethynyl group, or, moregenerally, is not an alkynyl group, or is not a group that can bereacted with an 1,3 dipole in a 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition (clickchemistry).

In particular other embodiments, site-specific coupling of aAmanitin-L-X* construct to a target-binding moiety can be achieved byincorporation of a non-natural amino acid comprising a keto group, inparticular p-acetylphenylalanine (pAcPhe), into the target-bindingmoiety, and by reacting such modified target-binding moiety with anAmanitin-L-X* construct, wherein X* is a hydroxylamine moiety.

In a further embodiment, a formyl group can be introduced byformylglycine generating enzyme (FGE), which is highly selective for acysteine group in a recognition sequence CxPxR to generate an aldehydetag. Such aldehyde tag can be reacted with an appropriate group X*present in an Amanitin-L-X* construct, in particular wherein X* is

(see Agarwal et al., Bioconjugate Chem 24 (2013) 846-851).

In a second aspect, the present invention relates to a pharmaceuticalcomposition comprising the conjugate of the present invention.

In a third aspect, the present invention relates to a conjugate of thepresent invention for use in the treatment of cancer in a patient,particularly wherein the cancer is selected from the group consisting ofbreast cancer, pancreatic cancer, cholangiocarcinoma, colorectal cancer,lung cancer, prostate cancer, ovarian cancer, prostate cancer, stomachcancer, kidney cancer, malignant melanoma, leukemia, and malignantlymphoma.

As used herein, “treat”, “treating” or “treatment” of a disease ordisorder means accomplishing one or more of the following: (a) reducingthe severity of the disorder; (b) limiting or preventing development ofsymptoms characteristic of the disorder(s) being treated; (c) inhibitingworsening of symptoms characteristic of the disorder(s) being treated;(d) limiting or preventing recurrence of the disorder(s) in patientsthat have previously had the disorder(s); and (e) limiting or preventingrecurrence of symptoms in patients that were previously symptomatic forthe disorder(s).

As used herein, the treatment may comprise administering a conjugate ora pharmaceutical composition according to the present invention to apatient, wherein “administering” includes in vivo administration, aswell as administration directly to tissue ex vivo, such as vein grafts.

In particular embodiments, a therapeutically effective amount of theconjugate of the present invention is used.

A “therapeutically effective amount” is an amount of a therapeutic agentsufficient to achieve the intended purpose. The effective amount of agiven therapeutic agent will vary with factors such as the nature of theagent, the route of administration, the size and species of the animalto receive the therapeutic agent, and the purpose of the administration.The effective amount in each individual case may be determinedempirically by a skilled artisan according to established methods in theart.

In another aspect the present invention relates to pharmaceuticalcomposition comprising an amanitin derivative according to the presentinvention, or a conjugate of the present invention of an amanitinderivative with a target-binding moiety, and further comprising one ormore pharmaceutically acceptable diluents, carriers, excipients,fillers, binders, lubricants, glidants, disintegrants, adsorbents;and/or preservatives.

“Pharmaceutically acceptable” means approved by a regulatory agency ofthe Federal or a state government or listed in the U.S. Pharmacopeia orother generally recognized pharmacopeia for use in animals, and moreparticularly in humans.

In particular embodiments, the pharmaceutical composition is used in theform of a systemically administered medicament. This includesparenterals, which comprise among others injectables and infusions.Injectables are formulated either in the form of ampoules or as socalled ready-for-use injectables, e.g. ready-to-use syringes orsingle-use syringes and aside from this in puncturable flasks formultiple withdrawal. The administration of injectables can be in theform of subcutaneous (s.c.), intramuscular (i.m.), intravenous (i.v.) orintracutaneous (i.c.) application. In particular, it is possible toproduce the respectively suitable injection formulations as a suspensionof crystals, solutions, nanoparticular or a colloid dispersed systemslike, e.g. hydrosols.

Injectable formulations can further be produced as concentrates, whichcan be dissolved or dispersed with aqueous isotonic diluents. Theinfusion can also be prepared in form of isotonic solutions, fattyemulsions, liposomal formulations and micro-emulsions. Similar toinjectables, infusion formulations can also be prepared in the form ofconcentrates for dilution. Injectable formulations can also be appliedin the form of permanent infusions both in in-patient and ambulanttherapy, e.g. by way of mini-pumps.

It is possible to add to parenteral drug formulations, for example,albumin, plasma, expander, surface-active substances, organic diluents,pH-influencing substances, complexing substances or polymericsubstances, in particular as substances to influence the adsorption ofthe target-binding moiety toxin conjugates of the invention to proteinsor polymers or they can also be added with the aim to reduce theadsorption of the target-binding moiety toxin conjugates of theinvention to materials like injection instruments orpackaging-materials, for example, plastic or glass.

The amanitin derivatives of the present invention comprising atarget-binding moiety can be bound to microcarriers or nanoparticles inparenterals like, for example, to finely dispersed particles based onpoly(meth)acrylates, polylactates, polyglycolates, polyamino acids orpolyether urethanes. Parenteral formulations can also be modified asdepot preparations, e.g. based on the “multiple unit principle”, if thetarget-binding moiety toxin conjugates of the invention are introducedin finely dispersed, dispersed and suspended form, respectively, or as asuspension of crystals in the medicament or based on the “single unitprinciple” if the target-binding moiety toxin conjugate of the inventionis enclosed in a formulation, e.g. in a tablet or a rod which issubsequently implanted. These implants or depot medicaments in singleunit and multiple unit formulations often consist of so calledbiodegradable polymers like e.g. polyesters of lactic acid and glycolicacid, polyether urethanes, polyamino acids, poly(meth)acrylates orpolysaccharides.

Adjuvants and carriers added during the production of the pharmaceuticalcompositions of the present invention formulated as parenterals areparticularly aqua sterilisata (sterilized water), pH value influencingsubstances like, e.g. organic or inorganic acids or bases as well assalts thereof, buffering substances for adjusting pH values, substancesfor isotonization like e.g. sodium chloride, sodium hydrogen carbonate,glucose and fructose, tensides and surfactants, respectively, andemulsifiers like, e.g. partial esters of fatty acids of polyoxyethylenesorbitans (for example, Tween®) or, e.g. fatty acid esters ofpolyoxyethylenes (for example, Cremophor®), fatty oils like, e.g. peanutoil, soybean oil or castor oil, synthetic esters of fatty acids like,e.g. ethyl oleate, isopropyl myristate and neutral oil (for example,Miglyole) as well as polymeric adjuvants like, e.g. gelatine, dextran,polyvinylpyrrolidone, additives which increase the solubility of organicsolvents like, e.g. propylene glycol, ethanol, N,N-dimethylacetamide,propylene glycol or complex forming substances like, e.g. citrate andurea, preservatives like, e.g. benzoic acid hydroxypropyl ester andmethyl ester, benzyl alcohol, antioxidants like e.g. sodium sulfite andstabilizers like e.g. EDTA.

When formulating the pharmaceutical compositions of the presentinvention as suspensions in a preferred embodiment thickening agents toprevent the setting of the target-binding moiety toxin conjugates of theinvention or, tensides and polyelectrolytes to assure theresuspendability of sediments and/or complex forming agents like, forexample, EDTA are added. It is also possible to achieve complexes of theactive ingredient with various polymers. Examples of such polymers arepolyethylene glycol, polystyrene, carboxymethyl cellulose, Pluronics® orpolyethylene glycol sorbit fatty acid ester. The target-binding moietytoxin conjugates of the invention can also be incorporated in liquidformulations in the form of inclusion compounds e.g. with cyclodextrins.In particular embodiments dispersing agents can be added as furtheradjuvants. For the production of lyophilisates scaffolding agents likemannite, dextran, saccharose, human albumin, lactose, PVP or varietiesof gelatine can be used.

EXAMPLES

In the following, the invention is explained in more detail bynon-limiting examples:

A. Total Synthesis of S-desoxy-α-amanitin HDP 30.0735

1. Preparation of N-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-L-6-acetoxy-tryptophan HDP30.2550

590.0 mg (2.68 mmol) 6-Hydroxy-L-tryptophan (CAS: 13567-14-1) wassuspended in a mixture of 30 ml 1,4-dioxane/water 1:1 (v,v). Under argon2.68 ml (2.68 mmol) 1N NaOH were added at once at ambient temperature.The resulting yellow solution was than treated with 574.6 μl (2.68 mmol)Boc anhydride (Boc₂O) and stirred for 24 h at room temperature. Thesolution was acidified with 1N hydrochloric acid to pH 2.4 and extracted3 times with 25 ml ethylacetate. The combined ethylacetate extracts werewashed with saturated NaCl solution and dried over MgSO₄. Filtration andevaporation to dryness gave 785.0 mg crude material. The crudeN-Boc-6-hydroxy-L-tryptophan was dissolved in 4.91 ml (4.91 mmol) 1NNaOH and treated with 463.2 ml (500.3 mg, 4.90 mmol) acetanhydride. Thereaction mixture was stirred for 3 h under argon and acidified with 5%citric acid. The aqueous phase was extracted three times with 25 mlethylacetate, washed with saturated NaCl and dried over MgSO₄.Filtration and evaporation gave 635 mg of a crude solid.

The crude product was purified by flash chromatography on a 330 g silicagel column (detection wave length 254 nm) with a gradient of CH₂Cl₂+1%acetic acid to CH₂Cl₂/MeOH (15:1)+1% acetic acid and gave after coevaporation with toluene 564.4 mg (56% yield) of a white powder.

MS (ESI⁻) found: 361.08 [M−H]⁻; calc.: 362.15 (C₁₈H₂₂N₂O₆)

2. Preparation ofcis,trans-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-2-carboxy-3a-hydroxy-6-acetoxy-1,2,3,3a,8,8a-hexahydropyrrolo[2,3-b]indolecis-HDP 30.2555 and trans HDP 30.2555 (cis,trans-6-Acetoxy-Hpi)

Photooxygenation

The photo-oxygenation was carried out with a 400 W high-pressure sodiumvapor lamp (Sirius X400 lamp 230 V, 400 W; 55000 lumen at a distance of1.3 m) or alternatively with a tungsten-halogen lamp (500 W). A filtersolution (CuCl₂—CaCO₃) cutting off light with λ<490 nm is used for atungsten-halogen lamp.

Methylene blue or Rose Bengal is used as a dye sensitizer.

The reaction was carried out in a 500 ml cylindrical reaction vesselwith heat exchange jacket made of DURAN® borosilicate glass, flat bottomand flat laboratory flange (DN) with two connectors with GL 18 thread.The distance from lamp to reaction vessel, was 15 cm and the reactiontemperature was in a range of 3−4° C.

The final product was purified on a Teledyne ISCO Flash chromatographysystem with a 330 g Silica Redi Sept Flash column (Teledyne ISCO cat.69-2203-330). Solvents CH₂Cl₂, CH₃OH, CH₃COOH were standard HPLC or BPgrade.

Dry oxygen (99.5% purity) was bubbled through the reaction mixture witha rate of 2-4 l per minute.

943.0 mg (2.60 mmol) N-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-L-6-acetoxy-tryptophan HDP30.2550 and 100 mg Rose Bengal were dissolved in 500 ml methanol andcooled to 3° C. by using a Huber cryostat with glycol/water as coolingmedia. The reaction solution was irradiated with the 400 W high-pressuresodium vapor lamp. During the irradiation a slow stream of oxygen wasbubbled through the reaction solution. After 5 hours irradiation,oxygenation and cooling was stopped and the reaction media was treatedwith 10 ml of dimethyl sulfide. The mixture was stirred for 2 hours andevaporated to dryness by using a rotary evaporator with a water bathtemperature of 35° C. The dark red residue was dried further in highvacuum to a crystalline solid of 1.20 g. The crude product was purifiedon a 330 g silica gel column (detection wave length 254 nm) with agradient of CH₂Cl₂+5% acetic acid to CH₂Cl₂/MeOH (30:1)+5% acetic acid.380 mg cis-HDP 30.2555 and 290 mg trans-HDP 30.2555 were eluted and coevaporated with toluene. After lyophilisation in tert-butanol bothisomers were obtained as off-white powders.

cis-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-2-carboxy-3a-hydroxy-6-acetoxy-1,2,3,3a,8,8a-hexahydropyrrolo[2,3-b]indole(cis-HDP 30.2555)

380 mg cis-HDP 30.2555 yield: 39%

¹H-NMR (400 MHz, CD3OD, δ=ppm)

δ=1.22, 1.44, 1.54 [s, 9H, C(CH₃)₃]; 2.23 (s, 3H, OCOCH₃); 2.46-2.63 (m,2H, CH₂); 4.14-4.29 (m, 1H, 2-H); 5.35 (s, 1H, 8a-H); 6.39-6.46 (m, 2H,7-H, 5-H); 7.20-7.24 (m, 1H, 4-H)

¹³C-NMR (100 MHz, CD3OD, δ=ppm)

δ=20.93, 28.45, 31.12, 42.80, 61.12, 69.44, 82.21, 85.82, 87.93, 104.97,112.98, 124.84, 129.42, 151.51, 154.04, 155.97, 171.34, 175.79

MS (ESI⁺) found: 378.92 [MH]⁺; calc.: 378.14 (C₁₈H₂₂N₂O₇)

MS (ESI⁺) found: 401.17 [M+Na]⁺; calc.: 401.14 (C₁₈H₂₂N₂NaO₇)

UV/VIS (CH₃OH): λ_(max)=296 nm, 239 nm, 215 nm

-   -   λ_(min)=266 nm, 227 nm

trans-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-2-carboxy-3a-hydroxy-6-acetoxy-1,2,3,3a,8,8a-hexahydropyrrolo[2,3-b]indole(trans-HDP 30.2555)

290 mg trans-HDP 30.2555 yield: 30%

¹H-NMR (400 MHz, CD3OD, δ=ppm)

δ=1.22, 1.45, 1.54 [s, 9H, C(CH₃)₃]; 2.22 (s, 3H, OCOCH₃); 2.55-2.73 (m,2H, CH₂); 4.51-4.57 (m, 1H, 2-H); 5.21-5.24 (s, 1H, 8a-H); 6.36-6.41 (m,2H, 7-H, 5-H); 7.17-7.18 (m, 1H, 4-H)

¹³C-NMR (100 MHz, CD3OD, δ=ppm)

δ=20.95, 28.50, 31.12, 42.47, 60.97, 69.44, 82.06, 84.84, 87.54, 104.74,112.67, 125.03, 128.70, 152.31, 154.22, 156.00, 171.23, 174.67

MS (ESI⁺) found: 379.00 [MH]⁺; calc.: 378.14 (C₁₈H₂₂N₂O₇)

MS (ESI⁺) found: 401.17 [M+Na]⁺; calc.: 401.14 (C₁₈H₂₂N₂NaO₇)

MS (ESI⁺) found: 779.00 [2M+Na]⁺; calc.: 779.28 (C₃₆H₄₄N₄Na₂O₁₄)

UV/VIS (CH₃OH): λ_(max)=299 nm, 241 nm, 215 nm

-   -   λ_(min)=268 nm, 228 nm

3. Preparation of S-desoxy-α-amanitin HDP 30.0735 Step 1: HDP 30.0013

FmocHypOH (10.0 g, 28.3 mmol) was suspended in 100 ml 80% MeOH andCs₂CO₃ (4.6 g, 14.1 mmol) was added. The suspension was stirred at 50°C. for 30 minutes until complete dissolution. The reaction mixture wasconcentrated to dryness and redissolved in 100 ml DMF. Allylbromide (1.6ml, 3.6 g, 29.7 mmol) was added dropwise and the reaction was stirredover night at room temperature. DMF was distilled off and the residuedissolved in tert-butylmethyl ether. Precipitates were filtered and theclear solution was absorbed on Celite prior column chromatography. Thecompound was purified on 220 g silicagel with n-hexane/ethylacetategradient.

Yield: 11.5 g, 100%

Step 2: HDP 30.0400

HDP 30.0013 (5.0 g, 14.1 mmol), pyridinium 4-toluenesulfonate (1.33 g,5.3 mmol) were added to a suspension of1,3-dihydro-2H-pyran-2-yl-methoxymethyl resin (5.0 g, 1.0 mmol/gTHP-resin) in 40 ml dichloroethane. The reaction was stirred at 80° C.overnight. After cooling the resin was filtered and extensively washedwith dichloroethane, dimethylformamide, acetonitrile, dichloromethaneand tert-butylmethyl ether.

Loading was 0.62 mmol/g (determined by UV-spectroscopy of thefluorenemethyl group after deprotection)

Step 3: HDP 30.2569 (Solid Phase Synthesis)

Resin Pre-Treatment:

HDP 30.0400 (0.31 g, 0.25 mmol) was treated with N,N-dimethylbarbituricacid (241 mg, 1.55 mmol) and Pd(PPh₃)₄ (35 mg, 0.03 mmol). The resin wasshaken over night at room temperature. Thereafter the resin wasextensively washed with dichloromethane, DMF, acetonitrile,dichloromethane and tert-butylmethyl ether and dried under reducedpressure.

Coupling Procedure:

All reactants and reagents were dissolved in dichloromethane/DMF (1:1,v/v). HDP 30.0477 [see WO 2014/009025] (102 mg, 0.30 mmol) was dissolvedin 6.0 ml dichloromethane/N,N-dimethylformamide and treated with 4.0 mlof a 0.2 N solution PyBOP/HOBt and 2 ml DIEA (40% in DMF). Afteraddition of 2.0 ml N,N-dimethylformamide, the reaction was heated to 50°C. for 8 minutes by microwave irradiation (20 W, CEM microwave reactor)and was washed with N,N-dimethylformam ide after coupling.

Fmoc-Deprotection:

Deprotection was performed by addition of 6.0 ml 20% piperidine inN,N-dimethylformamide at 50° C. for 10 minutes. The resin was washedwith N,N-dimethylformamide (no deprotection after coupling of the finalamino acid).

All other amino acids were coupled following the above protocol,weightings are shown below:

(0.102 g, 0.30 1.5 eq HDP 30.0477 MW: 339.6, see above) mmol 0.72 g, 1.25.0 eq FmocAsn(Trt)OH MW: 599.7 mmol 0.71 g, 1.2 5.0 eq FmocCys(OTrt)OHMW: 586.7 mmol 0.36 g, 1.2 5.0 eq FmocGlyOH MW: 297.3 mmol 0.36 g, 1.25.0 eq FmocIleOH MW: 353.4 mmol 0.36 g, 1.2 5.0 eq FmocGlyOH MW: 297.3mmol 0.114 g, 0.30 1.5 eq HDP 30.2555 MW: 378.4 mmol

After completion, the resin was finally transferred into a syringe withbottom frit, washed with DCM and dried under reduced pressure.

Resin Release and B-Ring Formation

A solution of 5 ml TFA, 5 ml DCM plus 10% MeOH was aspirated to theresin and shaken for 15 min at ambient temperature. The solution wasdispensed into a 50 ml reaction flask and the resin washed with TFA/DCM1:1 plus 10% MeOH once and poured into the same flask. The reactionflask was stirred for 16 h. Triisopropylsilane (0.5 ml) was added andthe reaction concentrated in vacuum. The residue was dissolved in 500 μlMeOH and the peptide precipitated in 50 ml ice-cold TBME. Aftercentrifugation the supernatant was decanted and the precipitate washedonce with 50 ml TBME and dried under reduced pressure.

The precipitate was solubilized in 2 ml methanol and purified bypreparative reverse phase column chromatography. Methanol was distilledoff under reduced pressure and the remaining aqueous phase was freezedried.

Yield: 136.5 mg, 62.5%

MS (ESI+) found: 1047.4 [M+H]⁺; calc.: 1047.4 (C₄₅H₆₃N₁₀O₁₇S)

HPLC: 91.9 area %

Step 4: Cyclisation (A-Ring Formation, HDP 30.2572)

The above freeze dried monocyclic intermediate (136 mg, 130 μmol) wasdissolved in 16 ml DMF and treated with diphenylphosphorylazide (DPPA,131 μl, 1300 μmol, 10 eq) and diisopropylethylamine (DIEA, 162 μl, 1300μmol, 10 eq). The reaction was stirred for 16 h and quenched with 500 μlwater upon completion. Conversion was monitored by HPLC. The mixture wasconcentrated by reduced pressure, re-dissolved in 1 ml methanol andpurified by preparative reverse phase column chromatography.

Yield: 55.3 mg, 41%

MS (ESI+) found: 1029.33 [M+Na]⁺; calc.: 1030.10 (C₄₅H₆₁N₁₀O₁₆S)

HPLC: 99.2 area %

Step 5: Acetate-Deprotection (HDP 30.0735)

HDP 30.2572 (55.3 mg, 53.7 μmol) was dissolved in a 7 N methanolic NH₃solution (3.0 ml) and stirred. Conversion was checked by HPLC/MS. Aftercompletion (6-8 h) the reaction was concentrated in vacuum, re-suspendedin 100 μl MeOH and purified by prep-HPLC.

Yield: 14.1 mg, 29%

HPLC: 100%

MS (ESI+) found: 903.3 [M+H]⁺; calc.: 902.9 (C39H54N10O13S)

-   -   found: 925.33 [M+Na]⁺

4. Preparation of6′-((3-Maleidopropanamido)-Val-Ala-PAB)-S-deoxy-α-amanitin (HDP 30.2371)Step 1: HDP 30.2364

S-Desoxy-α-amanitin HDP 30.0735 (30 mg, 33.2 μmol) and HDP 30.1690 (WO2016/142049, 78 mg, 133 μmol=4.0 eq.) were dissolved in 1500 μl drydimethylacetamide (DMA). A 0.2 M cesium hydrogencarbonate solution inwater (199 μl, 1.2 eq.) was added in one portion and the mixture isstirred at room temperature. After 1.5 and 4 h additional portions 99 μl(0.6 eq.) of cesium carbonate solution were added.

After 18 h the solvent evaporated by high vacuum.

The residue was dissolved in 400 μl of methanol and added dropwise toice cooled MTBE (10 ml). After standing at 0° C. for 10 min, theresulted precipitate was isolated by centrifugation (4 min, 4000×g). Thesupernatant was discharged and the pellet was resuspended in additionalMTBE (10 ml) and centrifugation was repeated. The vacuum dried crudeproduct was dissolved in 400 μl of methanol and purified by prep. HPLCon a Phenomenex Luna-C₁₈(2), 10 μm column (250×21.2 mm) with a gradient5% to 100% methanol in water. Product fractions were combined andreduced to 23 mg (70%) product as amorphous solid.

MS (ESI+) [M+Na]⁺ found: 1430.58; calc.: 1430.65 (C₆₅H₉₇N₁₃NaO₁₈SSi)

By evaporation of the early eluting peak 5 mg (17%) starting materialwere recovered.

Step 2: HDP 30.2366

HDP 30.2364 (9.47 mg, 6.72 μmol) was dissolved in 750 μl trifluoroaceticacid (TFA). After 2 min the volatiles are removed in vacuo and theresidue was dissolved in 750 μl water and 3% ammonia is added drop wiseuntil a pH of 10 was reached and precipitation occurred.

The solution was freeze-dried and purified on prep. HPLC subsequently(Phenomenex Luna-C₁₈(2), 10 μm column 250×21.2 mm, gradient of 5-100% ofmethanol (0.05% TFA) in water (0.05% TFA) to give 7.72 mg (89% based onTFA salt) product.

MS (ESI⁺) [MH]⁺ found: 1178.42; calc.: 1178.53 (C₅₄H₇₆N₁₃O₁₅S)

Step 3 HDP 30.2371

HDP 30.2366 (4.01 mg, 3.10 μmol) was dissolved in 500 μl dry DMF.

3-(Maleimido)propionic acid N-hydroxysuccinimide ester (BMPS, 1.65 mg, 2eq.), dissolved in 100 μl DMF followed by 2.1 μl DIPEA were added.

After stirring for 1 h the reaction mixture was dropped into 10 ml ofice-cooled methyl-tert-butyl ether. The tube was kept on ice for 10 minand centrifuged at 4000×g. The supernatant was removed and the pelletwas washed with 10 ml of fresh methyl-tert-butyl ether.

The vacuum-dried pellet was purified by RP-18 HPLC with a gradient5-100% methanol in water. The pure fractions were evaporated to drynessand lyophilized from 1 ml of tert-butanol/water to give 2.70 mg (65%)product as a colorless powder.

MS (ESI+) [MH]⁺ found: 1329.3; calc.: 1329.6 (C₆₁H₈₁N₁₄O₁₈S)

-   -   [M+Na]⁺ found: 1351.5; calc.: 1351.5 (C₆₁H₈₀N₁₄NaO₁₈S)

B. Total Synthesis of S-desoxy-5′-hydroxy-amaninamide HDP 30.2548

1. Preparation of N-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-L-5-acetoxy-tryptophan HDP30.2531

800.0 mg (3.63 mmol) 5-Hydroxy-L-tryptophan (CAS: 4350-09-8) weresuspended in a mixture of 40 ml 1,4-dioxane/water 1:1 (v:v). Under argon3.64 ml (3.64 mmol) 1N NaOH were added at once at ambient temperature.The resulting yellow solution was than treated with 779.0 μl (794.0 mg,3.63 mmol) Boc anhydride (Boc₂O) and stirred for 24 hours at roomtemperature. The solution was acidified with 1N hydrochloric acid to pH2.4 and extracted 3 times with 35 ml ethylacetate. The combinedethylacetate extracts were washed with saturated NaCl solution and driedover MgSO₄. Filtration and evaporation to dryness gave 1.26 g crudematerial. The crude N-Boc-6-hydroxy-L-tryptophan was dissolved in 7.87ml (7.87 mmol) 1 N NaOH and treated with 743.0 μl (802.4 mg, 7.86 mmol)acetanhydride. The reaction mixture was stirred for 3 hours under argonand acidified with 5% citric acid. The aqueous phase was extracted threetimes with 25 ml ethylacetate, washed with saturated NaCl and dried overMgSO₄. Filtration and evaporation.

The crude solid was purified by flash chromatography on a 330 g silicagel column (detection wave length 254 nm) with a gradient of CH₂Cl₂+1%acetic acid to CH₂Cl₂/MeOH (15:1)+1% acetic acid and gave after coevaporation with toluene 1020.0 mg (78% yield) of a white powder.

MS (ESI⁻) found: 361.08[M−H]⁻; calc.: 362.15 (C₁₈H₂₂N₂O₆)

¹H-NMR (400 MHz, CD3OD, δ=ppm)

δ=1.39 (s, 9H, C(CH₃)₃); 2.27 (s, 3H, OCOCH₃); 3.08-3.31 (m, 2H, CH₂);4.39-4.41 (m, 1H, 2-H); 6.81-6.83; 7.13; 7.24-7.26 (m, 2H, 6-H, 7-H);7.30-7.32 (1H, 4-H)

2. Preparation ofcis,trans-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-2-carboxy-3a-hydroxy-5-acetoxy-1,2,3,3a,8,8a-hexahydropyrrolo[2,3-b]indolecis-HDP 30.2536 and trans HDP 30.2536 (cis,trans-5-Acetoxy-Hpi)

Photooxygenation

The photo-oxygenation was carried out with a 400 W high-pressure sodiumvapor lamp (Sirius X400 lamp 230 V, 400 W; 55,000 lumen at a distance of1.3 m) or alternatively with a tungsten-halogen lamp (500 W). A filtersolution (CuCl₂—CaCO₃) cutting off light with λ<490 nm is used for atungsten-halogen lamp.

Methylene blue or rose Bengal is used as a dye sensitizer.

The reaction was carried out in a 500 ml cylindrical reaction vesselwith heat exchange jacket made of DURAN® borosilicate glass, flat bottomand flat laboratory flange (DN) with two connectors with GL 18 thread.The distance from lamp to reaction vessel, was 15 cm and the reactiontemperature was in a range of 3-4° C.

The final product was purified on a Teledyne ISCO Flash chromatographysystem with a 330 g Silica Redi Sept Flash column (Teledyne ISCO cat.69-2203-330). Solvents CH₂Cl₂, CH₃OH, CH₃COOH were standard HPLC or BPgrade.

Dry oxygen (99.5% purity) was bubbled through the reaction mixture witha rate of 2-4 l per minute.

1.20 g (3.17 mmol) N-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-L-5-acetoxy-tryptophan HDP30.2531 and 100 mg Rose Bengal were dissolved in 500 ml methanol andcooled to 3° C. by using a Huber cryostat with glycol/water as coolingmedia. The reaction solution was irradiated with the 400 W high-pressuresodium vapor lamp. During the irradiation a slow stream of oxygen wasbubbled through the reaction solution. After 4 hours irradiation,oxygenation and cooling was stopped and the reaction media was treatedwith 20 ml of dimethyl sulfide. The mixture was stirred for 2 hours andevaporated to dryness by using a rotary evaporator with a water bathtemperature of 35° C. The dark red residue was dried further in highvacuum to a crystalline solid. The crude product was purified on a 330 gsilica gel column (detection wave length 254 nm) with a gradient ofCH₂Cl₂+5% acetic acid to CH₂Cl₂/MeOH (30:1)+5% acetic acid.

178 mg cis-HDP 30.2536 and 132 mg trans-HDP 30.2536 were eluted and coevaporated with toluene. After lyophilisation in tert-butanol bothisomers were obtained as off-white powders.

cis-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-2-carboxy-3a-hydroxy-5-acetoxy-1,2,3,3a,8,8a-hexahydropyrrolo[2,3-b]indole(cis-HDP 30.2536)

178 mg cis-HDP 30.2536 yield: 15%

¹H-NMR (400 MHz, CD3OD, δ=ppm)

δ=1.44, 1.54 (s, 9H, C(CH₃)₃); 2.23 (s, 3H, OCOCH₃); 2.45-2.62 (m, 2H,CH₂); 4.18-4.33 (m, 1H, 2-H); 5.37 (s, 1H, 8a-H); 6.63-6.67; 6.82-6.84;(m, 2H, 7-H, 6-H); 6.96-6.98 (m, 1H, 4-H)

¹³C-NMR (100 MHz, CD3OD, δ=ppm)

δ=20.86, 28.46, 31.12, 42.81, 61.21, 82.14, 85.60, 111.49, 117.83,123.98, 132.77, 144.99, 148.03, 156.07, 172.01, 175.89

MS (ESI⁺) found: 379.00 [MH]⁺; calc.: 378.14 (C₁₈H₂₂N₂O₇)

MS (ESI⁺) found: 401.17 [M+Na]⁺; calc.: 401.14 (C₁₈H₂₂N₂NaO₇)

MS (ESI⁻) found: 377.17 [M−H]⁻; calc.: 378.14 (C₁₈H₂₂N₂O₇)

UV/VIS (CH₃OH): λ_(max)=299 nm, 242 nm, 207 nm

-   -   λ_(min)=270 nm, 222 nm

trans-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-2-carboxy-3a-hydroxy-5-acetoxy-1,2,3,3a,8,8a-hexahydropyrrolo[2,3-b]indole(trans-HDP 30.2536)

132 mg trans-HDP 30.2536 yield: 11%

¹H-NMR (400 MHz, CD3OD, δ=ppm)

δ=1.47, 1.54 [s, 9H, C(CH₃)₃]; 2.21 (s, 3H, OCOCH₃); 2.50-2.70 (m, 2H,CH₂); 4.51-4.56 (m, 1H, 2-H); 5.22-5.26 (s, 1H, 8a-H); 6.58-6.63;6.80-6.81 (m, 6-H, 7-H); 6.92 (s, 1H, 4-H)

¹³C-NMR (100 MHz, CD3OD, δ=ppm)

δ=20.88, 28.50, 31.12, 42.60, 61.11, 82.05, 85.38, 111.26, 117.88,124.07, 131.94 144.66, 148.95, 156.11, 172.01, 174.81

MS (ESI⁺) found: 379.00 [MH]⁺; calc.: 378.14 (C₁₈H₂₂N₂O₇)

MS (ESI⁺) found: 401.17 [M+Na]⁺; calc.: 401.14 (C₁₈H₂₂N₂NaO₇)

MS (ESI⁻) found: 377.17 [M−H]⁻; calc.: 378.14 (C₁₈H₂₂N₂O₇)

UV/VIS (CH₃OH): λ_(max)=302 nm, 244 nm, 208 nm

-   -   λ_(min)=272 nm, 224 nm

3. Preparation of S-desoxy-5′-hydroxy-amaninamide HDP 30.2548 Step 1:HDP 30.0013

FmocHypOH (10.0 g, 28.3 mmol) was suspended in 100 ml 80% MeOH andCs₂CO₃ (4.6 g, 14.1 mmol) was added. The suspension was stirred at 50°C. for 30 minutes until complete dissolution. The reaction mixture wasconcentrated to dryness and redissolved in 100 ml DMF. Allylbromide (1.6ml, 3.6 g, 29.7 mmol) was added dropwise and the reaction was stirredover night at room temperature. DMF was distilled off and the residuedissolved in tert-butylmethyl ether. Precipitates were filtered and theclear solution was absorbed on Celite prior column chromatography. Thecompound was purified on 220 g Silicagel with n-hexane/ethylacetategradient.

Yield: 11.5 g, 100%

Step 2: HDP 30.0400

HDP 30.0013 (5.0 g, 14.1 mmol), pyridinium 4-toluenesulfonate (1.33 g,5.3 mmol) were added to a suspension of1,3-dihydro-2H-pyran-2-yl-methoxymethyl resin (5.0 g, 1.0 mmol/gTHP-resin) in 40 ml dichloroethane. The reaction was stirred at 80° C.overnight. After cooling the resin was filtered and extensively washedwith dichloroethane, dimethylformamide, acetonitrile, dichloromethaneand tert-butylmethylether.

Loading was 0.62 mmol/g (determined by UV-spectroscopy of thefluorenylmethyl group after deprotection)

Step 3: HDP 30.2544 (Solid Phase Synthesis)

Resin Pre-Treatment:

HDP 30.0400 (0.31 g, 0.25 mmol) was treated with N,N-dimethylbarbituricacid (241 mg, 1.55 mmol) and Pd(PPh3)4 (35 mg, 0.03 mmol). The resin wasshaken over night at room temperature. Thereafter the resin wasextensively washed with dichloromethane, DMF, acetonitrile,dichloromethane and tert-butylmethyl ether and dried under reducedpressure.

Coupling Procedure:

All reactants and reagents were dissolved in dichloromethane/DMF (1:1,v/v). HDP 30.0477 [see WO 2014/009025] (102 mg, 0.30 mmol) was dissolvedin 6.0 ml dichloromethane/N,N-dimethylformamide and treated with 4.0 mlof a 0.2 N solution PyBOP/HOBt and 2 ml DIEA (40% in DMF). Afteraddition of 2.0 ml N,N-dimethylformamide, the reaction was heated to 50°C. for 8 minutes by microwave irradiation (20 W, CEM microwave reactor)and was washed with N,N-dimethylformam ide after coupling.

Fmoc-Deprotection:

Deprotection was performed by addition of 6.0 ml 20% piperidine inN,N-dimethylformamide at 50° C. for 10 minutes. The resin was washedwith N,N-dimethylformamide (no deprotection after coupling of the finalamino acid).

All other amino acids were coupled following the above protocol,weightings are shown below:

(0.102 g, 0.30 1.5 eq HDP 30.0477 MW: 339.6, see above) mmol 0.72 g, 1.25.0 eq FmocAsn(Trt)OH MW: 599.7 mmol 0.71 g, 1.2 5.0 eq FmocCys(OTrt)OHMW: 586.7 mmol 0.36 g, 1.2 5.0 eq FmocGlyOH MW: 297.3 mmol 0.36 g, 1.25.0 eq FmocIleOH MW: 353.4 mmol 0.36 g, 1.2 5.0 eq FmocGlyOH MW: 297.3mmol 0.114 g, 0.30 1.5 eq HDP 30.2536 MW: 378.4 mmol

After completion, the resin was finally transferred into a syringe withbottom frit, washed with DCM and dried under reduced pressure.

Resin Release and B-Ring Formation

A solution of 5 ml TFA, 5 ml DCM plus 10% MeOH was aspirated to theresin and shaken for 15 min at ambient temperature. The solution wasdispensed into a 50 ml reaction flask and the resin washed with TFA/DCM1:1 plus 10% MeOH once and poured into the same flask. The reactionflask was stirred for 16 h. Triisopropylsilane (0.5 ml) was added andthe reaction concentrated in vacuum. The residue was dissolved in 500 μlMeOH and the peptide precipitated in 50 ml ice-cold TBME. Aftercentrifugation the supernatant was decanted and the precipitate washedonce with 50 ml TBME and dried under reduced pressure.

The precipitate was solubilized in 2 ml methanol and purified bypreparative reverse phase column chromatography. Methanol was distilledoff under reduced pressure and the remaining aqueous phase was freezedried.

Yield: 75.1 mg, 35.9%

MS (ESI+) found: 1047.4 [M+H]⁺; calc.: 1047.4 (C₄₅H₆₃N₁₀O₁₇S)

HPLC: 99.3 area %

Step 4: Cyclisation (A-Ring Formation, HDP 30.2546)

The above freeze dried monocyclic intermediate (49.4 mg, 47.2 μmol) wasdissolved in 3 ml DMF and treated with diphenylphosphorylazide (DPPA, 13μl, 237 μmol, 5 eq) and diisoprpylethylamine (DIEA, 40 μl, 237 μmol, 5eq). The reaction was stirred for 16 h and quenched with 500 μl waterupon completion. Conversion was monitored by HPLC. The mixture wasconcentrated by reduced pressure, re-dissolved in 1 ml methanol andpurified by preparative reverse phase column chromatography.

Yield: 32.5 mg, 67.9%

MS (ESI⁺) found: [M+H]⁺1029.33 [MH]+1051.3 [M+Na]⁺; calc.: 1029.39;1051.42 (C₄₅H₆₁N₁₀O₁₆S; C₄₅H₆₀N₁₀O₁₆SNa)

HPLC: 88.3 area %

Step 5: Acetate-Deprotection (HDP 30.2548)

HDP 30.2546 (23.4 mg, 22.7 μmol) was dissolved in a 7 N methanolic NH₃solution (2.3 ml) and stirred. Conversion was checked by HPLC/MS. Aftercompletion (6-8 h) the reaction was concentrated in vacuum, re-suspendedin 100 μl MeOH and purified by prep-HPLC.

Yield: 12.5 mg, 53.3%

HPLC: 99%

MS (ESI+) found: 903.4 [M+H]⁺; calc.: 902.9 (C₃₉H₅₄N₁₀O₁₃S)

-   -   found: 925.4 [M+Na]+

5. Preparation of5′-((3-Maleidopropanamido)-Val-Ala-p-amininobenzyloxy)-S-deoxy-amaninamide(HDP 30.2602) Step 1: HDP 30.2563

S-desoxy-5′-hydroxy-amaninamide HDP 30.2548 (9.66 mg, 10.7 μmol) and HDP30.1690 (WO 2016/142049, 50.2 mg, 85.6 μmol=8.0 eq.) were dissolved in500 μl dry dimethylacetamide (DMA). A 1.0 M cesium hydrogen carbonatesolution in water (17.12 μl, 1.6 eq.) was added in one portion and themixture is stirred at room temperature.

After 1.5 h additional portions 17.12 μl (1.6 eq.) of cesium carbonatesolution were added.

After 8 h the reaction mixture was neutralized with acetic acid, passedthrough a centrifugal filter (0.2 μm) and purified by HPLC on aPhenomenex Luna-C₁₈(2), 10 μm column (250×21.2 mm) with a gradient(5-100%). of acetonitrile in water. Product fractions were combined andreduced to 4.00 mg (26%) product as amorphous solid.

MS (ESI⁺) [M+Na]⁺ found: 1430.58; calc.: 1430.65 (C₆₅H₉₇N₁₃NaO₁₈SSi)

Step 2: HDP 30.2378

HDP 30.2563 (7.53 mg, 5.34 μmol) was dissolved in 500 μl of atrifluoroacetic acid/water/triisopropylsilane 95:5:5 mixture. After 5min the volatiles were removed in vacuo and the residue was dissolved in1000 μl water and 3% ammonia was added drop wise until a pH of 10 wasreached.

The solution was freeze-dried and purified on prep. HPLC subsequently(Phenomenex Luna-C₁₈(2), 10 μm column 250×21.2 mm, gradient of 20-30% in16 min of acetonitrile in water (0.05% TFA) to give 3.95 mg (57% basedon TFA salt) product.

MS (ESI⁺) [M+H]⁺ found: 1178.50; calc.: 1178.53 (C₅₄H₇₆N₁₃O₁₅S)

Step 3 HDP 30.2602

HDP 30.2578 (3.95 mg, 3.06 μmol) was dissolved in 400 μl dry DMF.

3-(Maleimido)propionic acid N-hydroxysuccinimide ester (BMPS, 1.63 mg, 2eq.), dissolved in 81.4 μl DMF followed by 2.1 μl (2 eq.) DIPEA wereadded.

After stirring for 2 h the reaction mixture was passed through acentrifugal filter (0.2 μm) and purified by RP-18 HPLC with a gradient5-70% acetonitrile in water+0.05% TFA. The pure fractions wereevaporated to dryness and lyophilized from 2 ml of acetonitrile/water1:1 to give 2.73 mg (67%) product as a colorless powder.

MS (ESI+) [M+H]⁺ found: 1329.33; calc.: 1329.56 (C₆₁H₈₁N₁₄O₁₈S)

C. Total Synthesis of S-desoxy-4′-hydroxy-amaninamide

1. Schematic View of the synthesis ofcis,trans-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-2-carboxy-3a-hydroxy-4-acetoxy-1,2,3,3a,8,8a-hexahydropyrrolo[2,3-b]indole;cis- and trans (cis,trans-4-Acetoxy-H pi)

2. Schematic View of the Synthesis of S-desoxy-4′-hydroxy-amaninamide

D. Total Synthesis of S-desoxy-7′-hydroxy-amaninamide 1. Synthesis ofcis,trans-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-2-carboxy-3a-hydroxy-4-acetoxy-1,2,3,3a,8,8a-hexahydropyrrolo[2,3-b]indole;(cis,trans-4-acetoxy-Hpi)

The synthesis of cis,trans-7-acetoxy-Hpi is done in analogy to thesynthesis of cis,trans-4-acetoxy-Hpi starting from commerciallyavailable 7-hydroxy-L-tryptophan instead of 4-hydroxy-L-tryptophan.

2. Schematic View of the Synthesis of S-desoxy-7′-hydroxy-amaninamide

The synthesis of S-desoxy-7′-hydroxy-amaninamide is done in analogy tothe synthesis of S-desoxy-4′-hydroxy-amaninamide usingcis,trans-7-acetoxy-Hpi instead of cis,trans-4-acetoxy-Hpi.

6. In Vitro cytotoxicity of S-desoxy-α-amanitin HDP 30.0735 andS-desoxy-5′-hydroxy-amaninamide HDP 30.2548

BrdU Cell Proliferation Assay on HEK293 and HEK293 OATP1B3 cells.

HEK293-OATP1B3 cell culture plates were coated with poly-D-lysine.

Coating with Poly-D-Lysine:

-   -   5 mg Poly D-Lysine in 50 ml sterile water    -   50 μl in each well of a 96 well plate    -   Incubation for 1 h at RT    -   Washing of wells twice with 200 μl sterile water    -   Drying for at least for 2 h (RT)

Black 96-well plates with clear bottom with 2.0×10³ HEK293 and HEK293OATP1B3 cells/well and 90 μl growth medium per well including 10% FCSand supplements were prepared. Controls: “Blank” was set up with 100 μlmedium without cells, “Background” and “100%” were set up with cells in100 μl medium.

-   -   Incubation for 24 h at 37° C. and 5% CO₂.

Dilution Scheme of HDP 30.0735, HDP 30.2548 and Alpha-Amanitin:

The stock solutions were diluted 1:1000 (1:10 and 1:100 dilution) inmedium:

-   -   10 μl Amanitin derivative stock solution (1.0×10⁻² M)+90 μl        PBS=100 μl 1.0×10⁻³ M    -   2 μl dilution+198 μl medium=200 μl 1×10⁻⁵

Further Dilutions:

-   -   A: 200 μl 1.0×10⁻⁵ M    -   B: 80 μl growth medium+20 μl solution A (1:5 dilution)    -   C: 80 μl growth medium+20 μl solution B (1:5 dilution)    -   D: 80 μl growth medium+20 μl solution C (1:5 dilution)    -   E: 80 μl growth medium+20 μl solution D (1:5 dilution)    -   F: 80 μl growth medium+20 μl solution E (1:5 dilution)    -   G: 80 μl growth medium+20 μl solution F (1:5 dilution)    -   H: 80 μl growth medium+20 μl solution G (1:5 dilution)

10 μl of each solution were added to well triplicates.

Final volume: 100 μl/well

Final dose: starting 1×10⁻⁶ M; 1:5 dilution series.

-   -   Incubation for 96 h at 37° C. and 5% CO₂.    -   After 96 h: Roche Cell proliferation assay, luminescent        according to manufacturer instructions.    -   EC₅₀-concentrations were determined with Graphpad Prism 4.0 data        analysis software.

7. Synthesis of HDP 30.2347, HDP 2371 and 30.2602 Conjugates Example:Synthesis of T-D265C-30.2371

10 mg Thiomab T-D265C in PBS buffer were used for conjugation to HDP30.2371.

-   -   Adjust antibody solution to 1 mM EDTA:    -   2 ml antibody solution (10.0 mg)+20 μl 100 mM EDTA, pH 8.0    -   Amount antibody: 10 mg=6.9×10⁻⁸ mol

Uncapping of cysteines by reaction of antibody with 40 eq. TCEP:

-   -   2 ml antibody solution (6.9×10⁻⁸ mol)+55.2 μl 50 mM TCEP        solution (2.76×10⁻⁶ mol)    -   Incubate for 3 h at 37° C. on a shaker.    -   Two consecutive dialyses at 4° C. in 2.0 l 1×PBS, 1 mM EDTA, pH        7.4 in a Slide-A-Lyzer Dialysis Cassette 20,000 MWCO, first        dialysis ca. 4 h, second dialysis overnight

Oxidation by reaction of antibody with 20 eq. dehydroascorbic acid(dhAA):

-   -   ca. 2 ml antibody solution (6.9×10⁻⁸ mol)+27.6 μl fresh 50 mM        dhAA solution (1.38×10⁻⁶ mol)    -   Incubate for 3 h at RT on a shaker.

Conjugation with amanitin using 6 eq. HDP 30.2371 and quenching with 25eq. N-acetyl-L-cysteine:

Solubilize 2 mg HDP 30.2371 in 200 μl DMSO=10 μg/μl

-   -   ca. 2 ml antibody solution (=9.5 mg; 6.53×10⁻⁸ mol)+52.1 μl HDP        30.2371 (=520.8 μg; 3.92×10⁻⁷ mol).    -   Incubate 1 h at RT.    -   Quench by addition of 16.3 μl 100 mM N-acetyl-L-cysteine        (1.63×10⁻⁶ mol).    -   Incubate 15 min at RT (or overnight at 4° C.).    -   Purify reaction mix with 1×PD-10 columns equilibrated with        1×PBS, pH 7.4. Identify protein-containing fractions with        Bradford reagent on parafilm and bring protein-containing        fractions together.    -   Dialysis of antibody solution at 4° C. overnight in 2.0 l PBS,        pH 7.4 and Slide-A-Lyzer Dialysis Cassettes 20,000 MWCO.

Determination of DAR by LC-ESI-MS-analysis.

Adjust protein concentration to 5.0 mg/ml (3.4×10⁻⁵ M) and bring tosterile conditions by filtration. Store at 4° C.

ADCs with a different antibody or with a different Amanitin derivativewere produced accordingly. The molecular amount of antibody wascalculated according to the MW of the respective antibody. The amountsof linker toxin, TCEP, dhAA, N-acetyl-L-cysteine were adjustedaccordingly to reach the respective equivalents.

8. In Vitro Cytotoxicity of HDP 30.2347, HDP 2371 and 30.2602 Conjugates

BrdU Cell Proliferation Assay on SKBR-3, JIMT-1, LnCap, and 22rv1 Cells:

The assay was performed as described above (6.) with the followingchanges:

Cell culture plates were not coated with poly-D-lysine.

-   -   Dilution scheme of ADCs:    -   The stock solutions were diluted to 1.0×10⁻⁶ M in growth medium

Further Dilutions:

-   -   A: 100 μl 1.0×10⁻⁶ M    -   B: 80 μl growth medium+20 μl solution A (1:5 dilution)    -   C: 80 μl growth medium+20 μl solution B (1:5 dilution)    -   D: 80 μl growth medium+20 μl solution C (1:5 dilution)    -   E: 80 μl growth medium+20 μl solution D (1:5 dilution)    -   F: 80 μl growth medium+20 μl solution E (1:5 dilution)    -   G: 80 μl growth medium+20 μl solution F (1:5 dilution)    -   H: 80 μl growth medium+20 μl solution G (1:5 dilution)    -   10 μl of each solution were added to well triplicates. Final        volume: 100 μl/well. Final dose: starting 1×10⁻⁷M; 1:5 dilution        series

WST-1 Assay on Raji Cells and Nalm-6 Cells:

-   -   Transparent F-bottom 96-well plates with 2.0×10³ cells/well and        90 μl of the respective growth medium per well including 10% FCS        and supplements were prepared. Controls: “Blank” was set up with        100 μl medium without cells; “cells only” was set up with cells        in 100 μl medium.    -   Incubation for 24 h at 37° C. and 5% CO₂.    -   Dilution scheme of ADCs:    -   The stock solutions were diluted to 1.0×10⁻⁶ M in growth medium

Further Dilutions:

-   -   A: 100 μl 1.0×10⁻⁶M    -   B: 80 μl growth medium+20 μl solution A (1:5 dilution)    -   C: 80 μl growth medium+20 μl solution B (1:5 dilution)    -   D: 80 μl growth medium+20 μl solution C (1:5 dilution)    -   E: 80 μl growth medium+20 μl solution D (1:5 dilution)    -   F: 80 μl growth medium+20 μl solution E (1:5 dilution)    -   G: 80 μl growth medium+20 μl solution F (1:5 dilution)    -   H: 80 μl growth medium+20 μl solution G (1:5 dilution)    -   10 μl of each solution were added to well triplicates. Final        volume: 100 μl/well. Final dose: starting 1×10⁻⁷M; 1:5 dilution        series    -   Incubation for 96 h at 37° C. and 5% CO₂.    -   After 96 h: Roche WST-1 Cell Proliferation assay according to        manufacturer instructions.    -   EC₅₀-concentrations were determined with Graphpad Prism 4.0 data        analysis software.

1. An amanitin derivative comprising a hydroxylated tryptophan moiety,which is selected from (i)S-desoxy-4′-hydroxy-amanin, 4′-hydroxy-amanin,S-desoxy-5′-hydroxy-amanin, 5′-hydroxy-amanin,S-desoxy-7′-hydroxy-amanin, 7′-hydroxy-amanin,(ii)S-desoxy-4′-hydroxy-amaninam ide, 4′-hydroxy-amaninamide,S-desoxy-5′-hydroxy-amaninamide, 5′-hydroxy-amaninamide,S-desoxy-7′-hydroxy-amaninamide, and 7′-hydroxy-amaninamide, and (iii) aderivative of the amanitin according to (i), wherein the free carboxylicacid moiety of amino acid 1 is converted to an carboxylic ester—C(═O)OR1 or to a moiety —C(═O)NH—OR1, wherein R1 is selected fromalkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, substituted alkyl, substituted aryl, andsubstituted heteroaryl.
 2. The amanitin derivative of claim 1, which isselected from S-desoxy-5′-hydroxy-amanin, 5′-hydroxy-amanin,S-desoxy-5′-hydroxy-amaninamide, and 5′-hydroxy-amaninamide
 3. Aconjugate comprising (a) amanitin derivative comprising a hydroxylatedtryptophan moiety of claim 1, (b) a target-binding moiety, and (c)optionally a linker linking said amanitin derivative and saidtarget-binding moiety.
 4. A conjugate comprising (a) an amanitinderivative comprising a hydroxylated tryptophan moiety of claim 2, (b) atarget-binding moiety, and (c) optionally a linker linking said amanitinderivative and said target-binding moiety.
 5. A construct comprising (a)an amanitin derivative of claim 1, and (b) a linker moiety carrying areactive group Y for linking said amanitin derivative to atarget-binding moiety.
 6. A construct comprising (a) an amanitinderivative of claim 2, and (b) a linker moiety carrying a reactive groupY for linking said amanitin derivative to a target-binding moiety.
 7. Apharmaceutical composition comprising the amanitin derivative ofclaim
 1. 8. A pharmaceutical composition comprising the amanitinderivative of claim
 2. 9. A pharmaceutical composition comprising theconjugate of claim
 3. 10. A pharmaceutical composition comprising theconjugate of claim
 4. 11. A method of treating cancer in a patient, themethod comprising administering to the patient the conjugate of claim 3.12. The method of treating cancer in a patient of claim 11, wherein thecancer is selected from the group consisting of breast cancer,pancreatic cancer, cholangiocarcinoma, colorectal cancer, lung cancer,prostate cancer, ovarian cancer, prostate cancer, stomach cancer, kidneycancer, malignant melanoma, leukemia, and malignant lymphoma.
 13. Amethod of treating cancer in a patient, the method comprisingadministering to the patient the conjugate of claim
 4. 14. The method oftreating cancer in a patient of claim 13, wherein the cancer is selectedfrom the group consisting of breast cancer, pancreatic cancer,cholangiocarcinoma, colorectal cancer, lung cancer, prostate cancer,ovarian cancer, prostate cancer, stomach cancer, kidney cancer,malignant melanoma, leukemia, and malignant lymphoma.
 15. A method oftreating cancer in a patient, the method comprising administering to thepatient the pharmaceutical composition of claim
 7. 16. A method oftreating cancer in a patient, the method comprising administering to thepatient the pharmaceutical composition of claim
 8. 17. A method oftreating cancer in a patient, the method comprising administering to thepatient the pharmaceutical composition of claim
 9. 18. A method oftreating cancer in a patient, the method comprising administering to thepatient the pharmaceutical composition of claim 10.